title: Effectiveness of aripiprazole in adolescents and young adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: comparison of first-episode to recurrent psychosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aims to determine the clinical outcomes of aripiprazole treatment in adolescents and young adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a 24-week, observational, prospective study. Patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were prescribed a daily dose of 5 mg to 30 mg of aripiprazole. Effectiveness was assessed by the change from baseline in psychotic symptoms and quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-two patients with a mean age of 18.1 ± 3.7 years were recruited. Eighteen were experiencing the first episode of psychosis (FEP), whereas the remaining 24 were non-FEP. Psychotic symptoms, but not quality of life, improved globally from baseline scores by the endpoint of the study (effect size = 0.44). Compared with non-FEP patients, FEP patients had greater improvements (effect size = 0.45) in some clinical outcome dimensions during the 24-week aripiprazole treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We observed significant improvements of medium effect sizes in psychotic symptoms of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders within a naturalistic clinical setting, especially for FEP patients.
authors: Department of Child Psychiatry and Sleep Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital; School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan.
authors: Yu-Shu
authors: YS
authors: Huang
authors: Chin-Bin
authors: CB
authors: Yeh
authors: Ching-Shu
authors: CS
authors: Tang
authors: Chih-Ken
authors: CK
authors: Chen
authors: Wen-Jiun
authors: WJ
authors: Chou
authors: Miao-Chun
authors: MC
authors: Chou
authors: Yu-Yu
authors: YY
authors: Wu
authors: Hsin-Yi
authors: HY
authors: Liang
authors: Liang-Jen
authors: LJ
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D000328:Adult; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015363:Quinolones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
chemical_list: D010879:Piperazines; D015363:Quinolones; D000068180:Aripiprazole