A. ROSSI, O. RINALDI - Vol. 9, September 2003, Issue 3
Testo Bibliografia Summary Indice
Efficienza clinica nel trattamento con antipsicotici
atipici nella schizofrenia
Clinical effectiveness and atypical antipsychotic treatment of schizophrenia
Over the course of the last decade, atypical antipsychotic medications have become first-line choices for acute and maintenance treatment for schizophrenia. In numerous cases these antipsychotics have replaced typical neuroleptics, which are associated with a high incidence of adverse effects, particulary parkinsonism and tardive dyskinesia.
Although the efficacy of atypical antipsychotics compared with its competitors has been well established in many clinical trials, many of these studies are unfortunately too brief in duration, given that schizophrenia and the other psychoses require long-term treatment. Following patients for prolonged periods of time however, the psychiatrists cannot rely entirely on data from studies, given that clinical experience is also important in choosing an antipsychotics medication.
This article consider the several aspects of the clinical effectiveness to guide more appropriate prescription of the atypical antipsychotics.