Acute phase of schizophrenia: impact of atypical antipsychotics

The acute phase of schizophrenia is characterized by the presence of positi ve, negative and affective symptoms. After recovery, patients still may suf fer distressing residual symptoms; they also carry a high risk of relapse w hich may be associated with further deterioration in their condition. Promp t, early and continued treatment with an effective, well-tolerated antipsyc hotic agent, is therefore crucial, Typical antipsychotics are poorly tolera ted, leading to lack of compliance and relapse. They also lack efficacy in controlling negative and affective symptoms. Atypical compounds such as ami sulpride or risperidone are better tolerated. In addition, when compared wi th either haloperidol or risperidone, amisulpride has been shown to be at l east as effective in controlling positive symptoms and significantly superi or in alleviating negative symptoms. The onset of action of amisulpride app ears more rapid than that of haloperidol. Amisulpride therefore fulfils all the requirements of a first-line agent for the treatment of the acute phas e of schizophrenia, mt clin Psychopharmacol 2000, 15 (suppl 4):S5-S9 (C) 20 00 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.