title: Effect of Adjunctive Aripiprazole on Sexual Dysfunction in Schizophrenia: A Preliminary Open-Label Study.
abstract: Introduction:Although adjunctive aripiprazole improves hyperprolactinemia, sufficient evidence for its effects on sexual dysfunction has not been obtained. We assessed the usefulness of adjunctive aripiprazole for schizophrenia with sexual dysfunction.Methods:22 Japanese schizophrenia patients with antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinemia and sexual dysfunction were enrolled, and 19 of them completed the study. Aripiprazole was administrated in a flexible titration schedule to participants according to the judgment of each doctor, and patients were followed for 24 weeks. Serum prolactin, Clinical Global Impression Scales-Severity (CGI-S), and Nagoya Sexual Function Questionnaire (NSFQ) were measured at baseline and at 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks.Results:Prolactin at week 4 and later was significantly lower than that at baseline. Compared to baseline, we observed a significant improvement in total sexual dysfunction as measured by NSFQ at week 8 and later. In males, erectile dysfunction was significantly reduced at week 24. In females, menstrual irregularity and galactorrhea were significantly reduced at week 24. CGI-S did not significantly change.Discussion:Although the small sample size is a limitation in this study, adjunctive aripiprazole may be useful treatment for sexual dysfunction including hyperprolactinemia in schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fujioi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banno
authors.affiliation: Kikuchi Mental Clinic, Siroato, Usikubo-cho, Toyokawa, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aleksic
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ozaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068180:Aripiprazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D011388:Prolactin