No abstract

Aripiprazole has been licensed despite the fact that few reliable data on this drug are publicly available. It may be effective for treatment of schizophrenia, but in terms of tolerability and global outcomes it shows little difference from existing antipsychotics.

Aripiprazole may be effective for the treatment of schizophrenia, but it is not much different from typical antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics with respect to treatment response, efficacy or tolerability. In comparison with typical antipsychotics, aripiprazole may have a higher risk of insomnia, but in comparison to atypical antipsychotics, less risk of raised prolactin and prolongation of the QTc interval. Clearly reported pragmatic short, medium and long term randomised controlled trials should be carried out to determine its position in everyday clinical practice.

Background-In many countries of the industrialised world second generation (atypical) antipsychotics have become first line drug treatments for people with schizophrenia. The question as to whether, and if so how much, the effects of the various second generation antipsychotics differ is a matter of debate. In this review we examine how the efficacy and tolerability of aripiprazole differs from that of other second generation antipsychotics. Objectives-To evaluate the effects of aripiprazole compared with other atypical antipsychotics for people with schizophrenia and schizophrenia-like psychoses. Search methods-We searched the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group Trials Register (March 2007) which is based on regular searches of BIOSIS, CENTRAL, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsycINFO.