British Antipsychotic Data Raise Questions[ 12-20-06 ]
Researchers' claims of significant differences in effectiveness of second-generation antipsychotics lead to questions about methodology and outcomes.
A new head-to-head comparative effectiveness study suggests there are clinically significant differences in effectiveness of the five second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) medications currently available. Yet some researchers are questioning the study's methods and its primary conclusion that olanzapine (Zyprexa) and risperidone (Risperdal), along with the first-generation drug haloperidol (Haldol), are more effective than aripiprazole (Abilify), quetiapine (Seroquel), or ziprasidone (Geodon).
The report, appearing in the December British Journal of Psychiatry, involved 327 acutely ill patients hospitalized for treatment of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or schizophreniform disorder. Patients were randomly assigned on admission to open-label treatment with one of the five SGAs or to haloperidol as an active comparator.
