Symptomatic remission in schizophrenia patients treated with aripiprazole or haloperidol for up to 52 weeks.
BACKGROUND
The Remission in Schizophrenia Working Group (RSWG) has defined criteria for symptomatic remission based on achieving and maintaining a consistently low symptom threshold for at least six consecutive months. This analysis examined symptomatic remission in acutely ill patients with schizophrenia receiving either aripiprazole or haloperidol for one year.


METHODS
Pooled data from two 52-week, randomized, double-blind, multicenter, comparative trials of aripiprazole and haloperidol in acutely ill patients with schizophrenia were analyzed. Measures of symptomatic remission were calculated according to RSWG criteria.


RESULTS
Remission rates were significantly higher for patients treated with aripiprazole compared with haloperidol (32% vs 22%, respectively; p<0.001, LOCF). Among remitters, aripiprazole-treated patients achieved symptom criteria in a significantly shorter time than haloperidol-treated patients (log rank p=0.0024). For trial completers, remission rates were similarly high in both groups (aripiprazole, 77%; haloperidol, 74%). Regardless of treatment type, remitters received significantly higher global clinical ratings than nonremitters (p<0.0001). Aripiprazole was associated with a significantly lower rate of discontinuations due to adverse events (AEs) than haloperidol (8.0% vs 18.4%, respectively; p<0.001) as well as lower concomitant medication use for extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) (23% vs 57%, respectively; p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Acutely ill schizophrenia patients treated with aripiprazole demonstrated a significantly higher rate of symptomatic remission across 52 weeks compared with haloperidol-treated patients. The similar remission rates among trial completers in both treatment groups, combined with fewer AE-related discontinuations and lower EPS medication use in the aripiprazole group, suggest that better tolerability with aripiprazole may have contributed to superior overall remission rates.
Kane
John M
JM
The Zucker Hillside Hospital, 75-59 263 St., Glen Oaks, NY 11004, USA. sschiavi@lij.edu
Crandall
David T
DT
Marcus
Ronald N
RN
Eudicone
James
J
Pikalov
Andrei
A
Carson
William H
WH
Swyzen
Wim
W
D000208:Acute Disease; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015363:Quinolones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010879:Piperazines; D015363:Quinolones; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D006220:Haloperidol