1. Open, randomized trial of the effects of aripiprazole versus risperidone on social cognition in schizophrenia.
- Author
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Maat A, Cahn W, Gijsman HJ, Hovens JE, Kahn RS, and Aleman A
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Antipsychotic Agents administration & dosage, Antipsychotic Agents adverse effects, Antipsychotic Agents therapeutic use, Aripiprazole administration & dosage, Aripiprazole adverse effects, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Dopamine Agonists administration & dosage, Dopamine Agonists adverse effects, Dopamine Antagonists administration & dosage, Dopamine Antagonists adverse effects, Drug Monitoring, Female, Humans, Male, Memory, Short-Term drug effects, Middle Aged, Netherlands, Patient Dropouts, Reaction Time drug effects, Recognition, Psychology drug effects, Risperidone administration & dosage, Risperidone adverse effects, Schizophrenia physiopathology, Social Behavior Disorders etiology, Young Adult, Aripiprazole therapeutic use, Dopamine Agonists therapeutic use, Dopamine Antagonists therapeutic use, Emotional Intelligence drug effects, Risperidone therapeutic use, Schizophrenia drug therapy, Social Behavior Disorders prevention & control
- Abstract
To date, only few studies have examined the impact of medication on social cognition and none have examined the effects of aripiprazole in this respect. The goal of this 8-week, randomized, multicenter, open-label study was to examine the effects of aripiprazole and risperidone on social cognition and neurocognition in individuals with schizophrenia. Eighty schizophrenia patients (DSM-IV-TR) aged 16-50 years were administered multiple computerized measures of social cognition and neurocognition including reaction times at baseline and the end of week 8. Social functioning was mapped with the Social Functioning scale and Quality of Life scale. The study ran from June 2005 to March 2011. Scores on social cognitive and neurocognitive tests improved with both treatments, as did reaction time. There were few differences between the two antipsychotics on (social) cognitive test-scores. The aripiprazole group performed better (more correct items) on symbol substitution (P=.003). Aripiprazole was also superior to risperidone on reaction time for emotional working memory and working memory (P=.006 and P=.023, respectively). Improvements on these tests were correlated with social functioning. In conclusion, aripiprazole and risperidone showed a similar impact on social cognitive test-scores. However, aripiprazole treatment produced a greater effect on patients' processing speed compared to risperidone, with these improvements being associated with concurrent improvements in social functioning. Further research on the long-term effects of aripiprazole on cognition is warranted., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. and ECNP. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2014
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