Abstract
Aimed to determine whether there are differential effects of 3 different atypical antipsychotics when administered to manage patients with schizophrenia with marked hostility. Zotepine, olanzapine and risperidone were compared in a open-label, randomized, acute-phase trial. Psychopathology was assessed at admission and discharge using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Statistical analyses had 3 principle objectives: (1) to assess whether there was significant changes in hostility and the hostile excitement syndrome during treatment; (2) to test whether there were different changes in the three drug groups; and (3) whether these changes were not exclusively mediated by sedation or effects on positive symptoms. 69 male and female subjects (Ss) participated. Results indicate that zotepine produces a significantly greater effect on hostility than risperidone. This greater effect was selective in the sense that it was present after changes in positive symptoms and sedation were accounted for. The finding that risperidone shows no specific effect on hostility is inconsistent with results from previous studies, yet in agreement with the results of N. C. Beck et al (1997), who showed that in patients with chronic schizophrenia risperidone failed to produce antiaggressive effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)
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