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Pharmacopsychiatry 2011; 44(3): 109-113
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1271688
Original Paper

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

An Open Randomized Pilot Trial on the Differential Effects of Aripiprazole versus Risperidone on Anhedonia and Subjective Well-Being

E. Liemburg1 , A. Aleman1 , J. Bous2 , K. Hollander1 , H. Knegtering1 , 3 , 4
  • 1Department of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Groningen, and BCN – NeuroImaging Center, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
  • 2University Center of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
  • 3Rob Giel Research Center, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
  • 4Lentis, Center for Mental Healthcare Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
Further Information

Publication History

received 01.10.2010 revised 01.12.2010

accepted 02.12.2010

Publication Date:
22 March 2011 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction: Negative symptoms of schizophrenia often predict an unfavorable clinical outcome. Disturbed dopamine transmission in different brain parts may underlie different aspects of negative symptoms, and the effect of antipsychotics on them may also differ. This pilot study investigated the potentially therapeutic effects of the partial dopamine agonist aripiprazole on different negative symptoms.

Methods: This pilot study randomly assigned patients with schizophrenia (N=40) to either aripiprazole or risperidone. After 6 weeks of treatment, the severity of negative symptoms was determined by the PANSS. Subscales of self-report questionnaires were used to assess differences in initiative, anhedonia, social functioning and subjective well-being.

Results: Patients treated with aripiprazole showed a significant improvement on measures for anhedonia and subjective wellbeing. Negative symptoms in general, lack of initiative and social inhibition were also lower in the aripiprazole treated group, but without reaching statistical significance.

Discussion: According to this pilot study, aripiprazole appears to specifically improve anhedonia and subjective wellbeing compared to risperidone. This may be caused by a specific effect of aripiprazole on the limbic branch of the dopamine system. Future studies should replicate this finding with a larger sample size.

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Correspondence

E. LiemburgMSc 

Department of Neuroscience

University Medical Center

Groningen

University of Groningen

Antonius Deusinglaan 2

P.O. Box 196

9700 AD Groningen

The Netherlands

Phone: +31/50/363 8999

Fax: +31/50/363 8875

Email: E.J.Liemburg@med.umcg.nl