Atypical anti-psychotics in the real world--a naturalistic comparative outcome study.
BACKGROUND
There are few real life independent comparative studies of atypical antipsychotics. We prospectively examined five commonly used atypical antipychotics in the UK, without support from the pharmaceutical industry.


METHODS
Prospective naturalistic systematic clinical evaluation. Patients being newly prescribed atypical anti-psychotics over a one year period were assessed by psychiatrists at initiation and after six months treatment using five outcome measures: clinical global impression; positive and negative psychotic symptoms; drug related side effects; and quality of life.


RESULTS
373 patients participated in total. Olanzapine and risperidone produced statistically significant reductions in all ratings at six months. Amisulpride, clozapine, and quetiapine were also studied. There was limited variance between the different drugs, although some sample sizes were small.


CONCLUSIONS
Atypical anti-psychotics were found to be clinically effective, and produced similar outcomes. Routine monitoring of outcomes in psychiatry is feasible.
Taylor
M
M
Springpark Centre, Glasgow G22 5EU. mark.taylor@glacomen.scot.nhs.uk
Turner
M
M
Watt
L
L
Brown
D
D
Martin
M
M
Fraser
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000077582:Amisulpride; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018967:Risperidone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D013469:Sulpiride; D000077582:Amisulpride; D003024:Clozapine; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine