title: Comparison between risperidone, olanzapine, and clozapine in the management of chronic schizophrenia: a naturalistic prospective 12-week observational study.
abstract: Risperidone, olanzapine, and clozapine are three atypical antipsychotic medications commonly used in the management of chronic schizophrenia. While they offer advantages with regard to clinical efficacy and side-effect profile, few studies have compared them in a naturalistic prospective observational manner. This study therefore investigated their comparative efficacy over 12 weeks including illness characteristics and adverse effects. One hundred thirty-one patients (76 M, 55 F) with DSMI-V schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were treated with risperidone (n = 38), olanzapine (n = 38), or clozapine (n = 55). All patients showed a significant decrease of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)-positive scores. Decreases in tardive dyskinesia and impulsivity scores were noted with clozapine and olanzapine, respectively. No differences between the medications were noted on depression, anxiety, EPS, or overt aggression scores. Olanzapine and clozapine appeared to be more effective in females. Males showed a decreased sexual performance irrespective of the medication and those treated with risperidone and clozapine showed greater proportional reduction of overt aggression. Clozapine-treated patients showed significant increased weight, increased glucose levels, and lowered sexual performance. Risperidone patients tended to exhibit reduced cholesterol levels. Higher creatine kinase (CK) levels were noted in risperidone-treated patients. While cautious given the nature of the study design, results suggest differences in the response to various atypical antipsychotic medications regarding efficacy and side-effect susceptibility.
authors.affiliation: Beer Yaakov Mental Health Center, Israel.
authors.forename: Rael D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Strous
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kupchik
authors.forename: Suzana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roitman
authors.forename: Sima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Noach
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gonen
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mester
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weizman
authors.forename: Baruch
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Spivak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003024:Clozapine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077152:Olanzapine; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D014280:Triglycerides; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D002784:Cholesterol; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D003024:Clozapine; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine