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Pharmacopsychiatry 2007; 40(1): 1-8
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-958520
Original Paper

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Outcomes in Schizophrenia Outpatients Treated with Amisulpride or Olanzapine

A. Hofer 1 , M. A. Rettenbacher 1 , M. Edlinger 1 , R. Huber 1 , T. Bodner 1 , G. Kemmler 1 , 2 , G. Sachs 3 , W. W. Fleischhacker 1
  • 1Department of Biological Psychiatry, Innsbruck Medical University, Austria
  • 2Department of General Psychiatry, Innsbruck Medical University, Austria
  • 3Department of Psychiatry, Vienna Medical University, Austria
Further Information

Publication History

received 25. 5. 2006 revised 18. 7. 2006

accepted 25. 7. 2006

Publication Date:
27 February 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction: We compared stable patients with schizophrenia who were treated with either amisulpride or olanzapine in terms of symptomatic outcome, neurocognitive functioning, functionality, and subjective outcome.

Methods: Sixty outpatients with chronic schizophrenia who had been treated with either amisulpride or olanzapine for at least six months were investigated.

Results: The scores of positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms did not differ between the two groups, but patients treated with olanzapine had significantly lower scores on the excitement and depression/anxiety components of the PANSS. With regard to cognitive variables, patients treated with amisulpride showed significantly lower values regarding verbal fluency and significantly better verbal memory than patients treated with olanzapine. Both treatment groups were comparable with respect to functional and subjective outcome variables.

Discussion: These observations add to the evidence that continuous treatment with different second-generation antipsychotics with relatively few side effects leads to comparable outcomes in patients with schizophrenia.

Key words

amisulpride - olanzapine - schizophrenia - outcome - cognition - employment - quality of life - needs

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Correspondence

A. Hofer

Department of Biological Psychiatry·Innsbruck Medical University

Anichstrasse 35

A-6020 Innsbruck

Austria

Phone: +43/512/504 23 66 9

Fax: +43/512/504 25 26 7

Email: a.hofer@i-med.ac.at