Randomised controlled trials of conventional antipsychotic versus new atypical drugs, and new atypical drugs versus clozapine, in people with schizophrenia responding poorly to, or intolerant of, current drug treatment

Abstract

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Augmentation of aripiprazole by flupenthixol decanoate in poorly responsive schizophrenia: a randomized clinical study

“…Our findings are in agreement with that study regarding the extra-pyramidal side effects of flupenthixol decanoate , but practically poles apart concerning efficacy. The positive effect of combining flupenthixol decanoate with aripiprazole in our experiment slightly supports the argument of some earlier studies regarding the advantages of FGAs versus SGAs [7]. Essentially, long-acting depot injections of drugs such as flupenthixol decanoate are extensively used as a means of long-term maintenance treatment for schizophrenia, and according to a study there is no difference between flupenthixol decanoate and other depot antipsychotics regarding management of schizophrenia, especially when its prevention of relapse in standard dose is not different from higher dose [16].…”

“…However, these claims have not been consistently confirmed by empirical data; so, researchers and clinicians differ in their attitudes concerning the comparative effectiveness of FGAs and SGAs [4,5]. Despite the lack of consensus, atypical antipsychotic drugs have become the most commonly used class of antipsychotic drugs in clinical practice [6][7][8]. However, according to one study, conventional drugs were associated with nonsignificantly better outcomes and lower costs in comparison with atypical drugs [9].…”

Psychotropic prescriptions for the treatment of schizophrenia in an outpatient clinic

“…FGAs, which are substantially cheaper, still have a place in the treatment of patients unresponsive or intolerant to the newer medications. 33 In addition, another report has noted that there is no clear evidence that SGAs are more effective or better tolerated than FGAs. 34 Those authors concluded that FGAs should be used in the initial treatment of an episode of schizophrenia, unless the patient has not previously responded to these drugs or has unacceptable extrapyramidal side effects.…”

Development of a Database of Instruments for Resource-Use Measurement: Purpose, Feasibility, and Design

“…Within the sample, a number of instruments (25 of 54) were considered piloted, although as observed in our previous review [1], authors used a variety of methods ranging from direct application of an annotated system [5,17], inclusion in specifically designed pilot programs [18], and reliance on previously used questionnaires from similar [19] and dissimilar [15] studies. Because of the importance of pilot testing, it would be necessary to include details of the methods employed within the database.…”