title: Retrospective study of Japanese patients with schizophrenia treated with aripiprazole.
abstract: Aim. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate changes in clinical indicators which influence the quality of life (QOL) of patients with schizophrenia treated by antipsychotic therapy before and after switching to aripiprazole. Methods. A retrospective chart review of 27 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and who were switched from one antipsychotic to aripiprazole was performed. Clinical indicators about the daily dosage of antipsychotics and antiparkinsonian drugs, psychiatric condition, and glucose/lipid metabolism, clinical evaluation by nursing observation were used to measure the responsiveness of subjects to aripiprazole. Results. Of the 27 subjects, 14 responded to the switch to aripiprazole with significant improvement of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) score (P = 0.04), significant decrease in dosage of antipsychotics in 71% of patients (P = 0.03), and tendency toward reduction in dosage of antiparkinsonian drugs (P = 0.07) and body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.06). However, 8 of 27 subjects had a significant increase in lipid levels after switching to aripiprazole (P = 0.01). Conclusion. QOL for subjects who responded to the switch to aripiprazole improved as indicated by lower doses of antipsychotic and antiparkinson medications, improvement in BPRS score, and a decrease in BMI. Results indicate little influence on patient's QOL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima 770-8509, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanioka
authors.forename: Syoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fuji
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kataoka
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Masahito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomotake
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yasuhara
authors.forename: Rozzano
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Locsin
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sekido
authors.forename: Kazushi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mifune