Effectiveness of Second Generation Antipsychotics
Author Information
Author(s): Johnsen Erik, Jørgensen Hugo A
Primary Institution: Haukeland University Hospital, Division of Psychiatry, Sandviken, Bergen, Norway
Hypothesis
To review the head-to-head effectiveness of SGAs in the domains of global outcomes, symptoms of disease, and tolerability.
Conclusion
In chronically ill patients, olanzapine may have an advantage over other SGAs regarding longer time to treatment discontinuation and better drug adherence, but it is also associated with more metabolic side effects.
Supporting Evidence
- Olanzapine was associated with longer time to treatment discontinuation compared to other SGAs.
- First generation antipsychotics were associated with lower total mental health care costs in some studies.
- Olanzapine was linked to more weight gain and adverse metabolic effects.
Takeaway
This study looked at different medications for mental health and found that one drug, olanzapine, helps people stick to their treatment longer but can also cause weight gain.
Methodology
Systematic review of randomized trials published from 1980 to 2008, focusing on head-to-head comparisons of second generation antipsychotics.
Potential Biases
Funding bias was noted, with several studies supported by pharmaceutical companies favoring their products.
Limitations
Some studies had low sample sizes, which increases the risk of statistical type 2 errors.
Participant Demographics
Adult patients over 16 years with schizophrenia or related disorders.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p < 0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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