Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2013, Vol. 8 ›› Issue (3): 277-286.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.03.011

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Cognitive effects of atypical antipsychotic drugs in first-episode drug-naïve schizophrenic patients

Juan Wang, Maorong Hu, Xiaofeng Guo, Renrong Wu, Lehua Li, Jingping Zhao   

  1. Mental Health Institute of Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China
  • Received:2012-09-15 Revised:2012-12-16 Online:2013-01-25 Published:2013-01-25
  • Contact: Jingping Zhao, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, Doctoral and master’s supervisor, Mental Health Institute of Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China, zhaojingpingcsu@163.com.
  • About author:Juan Wang☆, Studying for doctorate.
  • Supported by:

    The study was sponsored by the National Key Project of Scientific and Technical Supporting Programs Funded by the Ministry of Science & Technology of China, No. 2007BAI17B04; the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30900485; and the National R&D Special Fund for Health Professions, No. 201002003.

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Abstract:

Cognitive impairment is a core feature of schizophrenia. The present randomized open study enrolled antipsychotic-naïve patients who were experiencing their first episode of schizophrenia. After baseline neurocognitive tests and clinical assessment, subjects were randomly assigned to olanzapine, risperidone and aripiprazole treatment groups. A battery of neurocognitive tests showed that risperidone produced cognitive benefits in all five cognitive domains, including verbal learning and memory, visual learning and memory, working memory, processing speed, and selective attention; olanzapine improved processing speed and selective attention; and aripiprazole improved visual learning and memory, and working memory. However, the three atypical antipsychotic drugs failed to reveal any significant differences in the composite cognitive scores at the study endpoint. In addition, the three drugs all significantly improved clinical measures without significant differences between the drugs after 6 months. These results suggest that the atypical antipsychotics, olanzapine, risperidone and aripiprazole may improve specific cognitive domains with similar global clinical efficacy. In clinical practice, it may be feasible to choose corresponding atypical antipsychotics according to impaired cognitive domains.

Key words: neural regeneration, clinical practice, olanzapine, risperidone, aripiprazole, schizophrenia, cognition, memory, grant-supported paper, neuroregeneration