Korean J Psychopharmacol.  2010 Jul;21(3):130-136.

Comparison of Atypical Antipsychotics Discontinuation Rate in Acute Phase Hospitalized Patients-Retrospective Chart Review Study

• Hahn C
• Woo YS
• You JH
• Seo HJ
• Choi J
• Ko HJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the discontinuation rate of widely prescribed atypical antipsychotics when administered to newly admitted, acutely ill patients with schizophrenia or bipolar mania.
METHODS
Medical records of patients admitted to psychiatric ward of two university hospitals between January 2007 and December 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Subjects were eligible for inclusion if they prescribed olanzapine, risperidone or aripiprazole for their psychotic or manic symptom control. Patient groups (olanzapine/risperidone/aripiprazole) were compared for rate of antipsychotics discontinuation and duration of treatment continuation.
RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference in the rates of discontinuation during hospitalized period between olanzapine, risperidone and aripiprazole. Rates of discontinuation were 14.5% for olanzapine, 18.6% for aripiprazole and 24.0% for risperidone. Predictor of treatment discontinuation was short titration period and long illness duration.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated that risperidone, olanzapine and aripiprazole were comparable with no difference found on the discontinuation rate in treating acutely ill psychiatric patients. However, the small number of patients who participated in this study made it difficult to establish significance.

Keyword

Schizophrenia; Bipolar mania; Discontinuation rate; Risperidone; Olanzapine; Aripiprazole

MeSH Terms

Antipsychotic Agents
Benzodiazepines
Bipolar Disorder
Hospitals, University
Humans
Medical Records
Piperazines
Quinolones
Retrospective Studies
Risperidone
Schizophrenia
Aripiprazole
Antipsychotic Agents
Benzodiazepines
Piperazines
Quinolones
Risperidone