COMPARISON OF OLANZAPINE AND RISPERIDONE IN TREATMENT OF PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIA

Abstract

Objective:

To compare the frequency of clinical improvement of olanzapine and risperidone in treatment of paranoid schizophrenia.

Methodology: This randomized controlled trial consisting of 460 cases (230 in each group) was conducted at the Punjab Institute of Mental Health, Lahore (Teaching Unit-B), from Nov 24 to  June 25. Paranoid Schizophrenia cases from both inpatients and outpatients fulfilling the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV) criteria for schizophrenia, were included. Two groups were formed: Group R (risperidone) and Group O (olanzapine). Participants were randomly assigned using the lottery method to receive risperidone (2–8 mg/day) or olanzapine (5–20 mg/day). The primary outcome was clinical improvement, defined as a ≥20% reduction in total Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores after 3 months.

 Results: Of 460 cases, mean % reduction in both groups showing (25.87 ± 10.06%) in risperidone group and (19.78 ± 9.32%, p < 0.001) in olanzapine group. Clinical response was achieved by 168 patients (73.0 %) in the risperidone group and 114 patients (49.6 %) receiving olanzapine, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Risperidone is found to be more effective for improved clinical outcome when compared with Olanzapine treated group cases for the management of paranoid schizophrenia after 3 months of treatment whereas no significant difference was found for overall adverse events.: