Impact of Antipsychotic Medication on Sexual Function in Schizophrenia
Author Information
Author(s): Hanssens Linda, L'Italien Gilbert, Loze Jean-Yves, Marcus Ronald N, Pans Miranda, Kerselaers Wendy
Primary Institution: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Hypothesis
Does aripiprazole improve sexual function and reduce serum prolactin levels compared to standard antipsychotic care?
Conclusion
Aripiprazole may reduce sexual dysfunction and improve patient compliance compared to standard antipsychotic treatments.
Supporting Evidence
- Patients on aripiprazole showed a significant reduction in sexual dysfunction compared to those on standard care.
- Mean serum prolactin levels decreased more in the aripiprazole group than in the SOC group.
- Both treatment groups improved sexual function, but aripiprazole had a greater effect from Week 8 onwards.
Takeaway
This study found that patients taking aripiprazole had better sexual function than those on other antipsychotics.
Methodology
A 26-week, multi-centre, randomised, open-label study comparing aripiprazole to standard of care in patients with schizophrenia.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in subjective measures due to knowledge of treatment assignment.
Limitations
The open-label design may introduce bias, and physicians could choose the SOC medication.
Participant Demographics
{"age_mean":38.5,"gender_distribution":{"male":332,"female":223},"race_distribution":{"white":536,"black":4,"asian":9,"other":6}}
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.007
Statistical Significance
p < 0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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