title: Partial regimen replacement with aripiprazole reduces serum prolactin in patients with a long history of schizophrenia: A case series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aripiprazole (ARP) is a popular antipsychotic drug that has demonstrated ameliorative effects on hyperprolactinemia. However, no study to date has studied the utility of ARP in patients with a long history of schizophrenia and antipsychotic treatment. We therefore examined the effect of partial antipsychotic regimen replacement with ARP on hyperprolactinemia induced by chronic antipsychotic use in patients with schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients with a schizophrenia diagnosis (F2) based on the International Classification of Diseases (version 10) were recruited. At months 0, 1, 3, and 6 of the study, serum prolactin, body weight, and blood glucose were measured, and QOL and psychotic symptoms were assessed using Global Assessment of Functioning scores and Clinical Global Impressions of Improvement (CGI-I) scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine patients with an average age of 46.7±9.6 years and mean disease duration of 15.9±10.4 years were included in the final analysis. Serum prolactin levels significantly decreased and GAF and CGI-I scores improved significantly over the 6-month period after partial replacement with ARP. Additionally, no changes were observed in body weight or blood glucose over the 6-month period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Partial antipsychotic regimen replacement with ARP improves hyperprolactinemia, and may improve the QOL of patients with a long history of schizophrenia.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Japan Medical Association, Center for clinical trials D: JMA-IIA00245.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake-cho, Miyazaki-city, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan. Electronic address: keiko_naono@med.miyazaki-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Naono-Nagatomo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake-cho, Miyazaki-city, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, Miyazaki Prefectural Miyazaki Hospital, 5-30 Kitatakamatsu-cho, Miyazaki-city, Miyazaki 880-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Naono
authors.affiliation: School of Psychological Science, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, 1757 Kanazawa, Tobetsu-cho, Ishikari-gun, Hokkaido 061-0293, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.affiliation: Healthcare and Security Center, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuen Kibanadai-nishi, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryuichiro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake-cho, Miyazaki-city, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Funahashi
authors.affiliation: Uchimura Hospital, 852-1 Tsuruzako, Kobayashi-city, Miyazaki 886-0002, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Uchimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake-cho, Miyazaki-city, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000068180:Aripiprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D011388:Prolactin
keywords: Aripiprazole; Clinical global Impression of Improvement; Global Assessment of Functioning; Prolactin; QOL; Schizophrenia