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Pharmacopsychiatry 2004; 37(6): 279-285
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-832684
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Olanzapine versus Flupenthixol in the Treatment of Inpatients with Schizophrenia: A Randomized Double-Blind Trial

W. F. Gattaz1 , 2 , A. Diehl2 , M. S. Geuppert3 , P. Hubrich2 , A. Schmitt2 , I. Linde3 , A. Maras2 , R. W. Dittmann3 , 4
  • 1Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
  • 2Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany
  • 3CNS Division, Medical Department, Lilly Deutschland GmbH, 61350 Bad Homburg, Germany
  • 4Psychosomatic Department, Children’s Hospital, University of Hamburg, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 13.11.2002 Revised: 24.1.2003

Accepted: 9.12.2003

Publication Date:
19 November 2004 (online)

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Objective: The atypical antipsychotic olanzapine has extensively been compared with haloperidol, whereas studies vs. other (conventional) neuroleptics are scarce. This exploratory double-blind 4-week study was designed to compare the efficacy and the safety of olanzapine (OLA) and flupenthixol (FLU) which have recently been considered as a ”partially atypical” antipsychotics. Methods: Twenty-eight inpatients with schizophrenia (DSM-IV) were randomly assigned for treatment with OLA (N = 15, 5-20 mg/d) or FLU (N = 13, 5-20 mg/d). The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Negative Symptoms Rating Scale (NSRS), plus the Patient Global Impression (PGI) and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scales, were used to assess the efficacy of both compounds; safety was determined by using the Simpson Angus Scale (SAS) and the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) and by assessing treatment-emergent adverse events. Non-parametric statistics were applied. Results: BPRS and NSRS scores improved in both groups (exploratory tests; all p ≤ 0.02). Similar results were observed for CGI-Severity, CGI- and PGI-Improvement. There were no significant group differences. Responder rates (at least 40 % decrease in BPRS total) were 9/13 OLA patients (69 %) and 9/12 FLU patients (75 %). EPS events were reported only in the FLU group (p < 0.01); FLU patients needed significantly more anticholinergic medication. Weight gain was higher in OLA patients (p < 0.01). Overall, fewer patients with adverse events were observed in the OLA group (p = 0.04). No significant changes were noted on SAS and AIMS scores. Conclusion: Findings from this study suggest that overall and negative symptomatology improved in both treatment groups, while the safety and tolerability profiles differed for both substances.

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Prof. Wagner F Gattaz

Department and Institute of Psychiatry

Laboratory of Neuroscience (LIM-27)

Faculty of Medicine

University of São Paulo

Rua Dr. Ovidio Pires de Campos s/n

P. O. Box 3671

05403-010 Sao Paulo SP

Brazil

Phone: +5511 3081 1019

Fax: +5511 3083 6588

Email: gattaz@usp.br

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