title: Comparative study of treatment continuation using second-generation antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Effectiveness of a drug is a key concept dependent on efficacy, safety, and tolerability. Time to discontinuation of treatment is also representative of effectiveness. We investigated differences in treatment discontinuation among newly started second-generation antipsychotics in the clinical setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a retrospective cohort study design, we screened all outpatients (n = 7936) who visited the Shioiri Mental Clinic between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2010. We identified a cohort of patients (n = 703) diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and calculated the time to discontinuation of each second-generation antipsychotic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 703 patients, 149 were newly treated with aripiprazole, 67 with blonanserin, 95 with olanzapine, 36 with quetiapine, 74 with perospirone, and 120 with risperidone. The time to discontinuation for all causes was significantly longer for aripiprazole than for blonanserin, olanzapine, and risperidone. In addition, aripiprazole tended to be continued for longer than quetiapine and perospirone, but these differences were not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aripiprazole may be considered the best available option for long-term treatment of patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.
authors: Shioiri Mental Clinic, Yokosuka-shi, Kanagawa-ken, Japan.
authors: Takaharu
authors: T
authors: Azekawa
authors: Shizuko
authors: S
authors: Ohashi
authors: Akira
authors: A
authors: Itami