BackgroundFor treatment of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, comparative
long-term effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs to reduce relapses when
minimising adverse effects is of clinical interest, hence prompting this
review.AimsTo evaluate the comparative long-term effectiveness of antipsychotic
drugs.MethodWe systematically searched electronic databases for reports of randomised
controlled trials (RCTs) of antipsychotic monotherapy aimed at reducing
relapse risks in schizophrenia. We conducted network meta-analysis of 18
antipsychotics and placebo.ResultsStudies of 10 177 patients in 56 reports were included; treatment
duration averaged 48 weeks (range 4–156). Olanzapine was significantly
more effective than chlorpromazine (odds ratio (OR) 0.35, 95% CI
0.14–0.88) or haloperidol (OR=0.50, 95% CI 0.30–0.82); and fluphenazine
decanoate was more effective than chlorpromazine (OR=0.31, 95% CI
0.11–0.88) in relapse reduction. Fluphenazine decanoate, haloperidol,
haloperidol decanoate and trifluoperazine produced more extrapyramidal
adverse effects than olanzapine or quetiapine; and olanzapine was
associated with more weight gain than other agents.ConclusionsExcept for apparent superiority of olanzapine and fluphenazine decanoate
over chlorpromazine, most agents showed intermediate efficacy for relapse
prevention and differences among them were minor. Typical antipsychotics
yielded adverse neurological effects, and olanzapine was associated with
weight gain. The findings may contribute to evidence-based treatment
selection for patients with chronic psychotic disorders.
T6. SECOND GENERATION ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS AND MORTALITY: A META-ANALYSIS OF PLACEBO-CONTROLLED RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIALS
