J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2020 May;59(2):166-169. 10.4306/jknpa.2020.59.2.166.

Worsening of Psychotic Symptoms in Patients with Chronic Schizophrenia after Switching to or Combining Aripiprazole and Aripiprazole Monthly (Abilify Maintena)

• Park MM
• Kim SR
• Hahm W
• Paik IH

• KMID: 2502449
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2020.59.2.166

Abstract

Objectives
Aripiprazole is an antipsychotic that functions as a partial agonist in hypodopaminergic states and a dopamine antagonist in hyperdopaminergic states.
Methods
This paper reports a series of five clinical cases of worsening psychotic symptoms in schizophrenic patients related to the initiation of aripiprazole, oral and injection, as combination therapy.
Results
In all five cases, the switching of aripiprazole improved the psychotic symptoms.
Conclusion
Even with the suggestive relationship between aripiprazole therapy and the worsening of psychotic symptoms, further research is needed.

Keyword

Schizophrenia; Aripiprazole; Combination therapy