How Do First Generation Antipsychotics Stack up Against the Second Generation?

A study just published in the Archives of General Psychiatry found that second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) do not necessarily improve symptoms of schizophrenia nor improve patients’ quality of life relative to first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs). The researchers randomly prescribed SGAs (excluding clozapine) and FGAs to 227 patients ages 18—65 and recorded symptoms, quality of life scores, costs of care, and patient satisfaction. Subjects in the FGA arm exhibited more quality of life and symptom improvement than the SGA arm—there were no significant differences in satisfaction and cost. The researchers concluded that nonclozapine SGAs have no advantage over FGAs when switching drugs for clinical purposes. http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/63/10/1079

-LS