Authors' objectives:

The clinical effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of atypical antipsychotic drugs in schizophrenia were compared with conventional antipsychotic drugs, placebo and other atypical antipsychotic drugs.

As secondary objectives, the response was investigated in those with treatment-resistant schizophrenia, with predominantly negative symptoms or experiencing their first episode of schizophrenia.

Authors' recommendations: The evidence for the effectiveness of the new atypical antipsychotic drugs was, in general, of poor quality, based on short-term trials and difficult to generalise to the whole population with schizophrenia. Thus all conclusions are based on limited evidence and should be treated with caution. Further research is needed. However, individuals with schizophrenia may have found new atypical antipsychotic drugs (except for zotepine and ziprasidone) more acceptable than their typical comparators as, in general, fewer of them left trials early. Apart from clozapine for those with treatment-resistant illness, none of the new atypical antipsychotic drugs stands out as being more effective than the others. They all seemed to have slightly different side-effect profiles, which may have varying importance for those with schizophrenia and their carers.

Authors' methods: Systematic review

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.hta.ac.uk/1235

Year Published: 2003

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England, United Kingdom

Organisation Name: NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme

Contact Address: NIHR Journals Library, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre, Alpha House, University of Southampton Science Park, Southampton SO16 7NS, UK

Contact Name: journals.library@nihr.ac.uk

Contact Email: journals.library@nihr.ac.uk

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