To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Patients With Schizophrenia Show Similar Cognitive Effects With Ziprasidone or Clozapine: Presented at ECNP URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/21606A.htm Doctor's Guide October 19, 2007
By Paula Moyer VIENNA, AUSTRIA -- October 19, 2007 -- Ziprasidone and clozapine are both associated with significant improvements in some aspects of cognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia, according to investigators who presented findings from a randomised, double-blind trial here at the 20th European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) Congress. The study was presented by principal investigator Philip D. Harvey, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States. Clozapine is often used in treatment-resistant patients, so the investigators wanted to compare the cognitive benefits of ziprasidone and clozapine in patients who had either not responded to previous antipsychotic therapies or had not been able to tolerate therapy. A total of 144 patients were randomised to either clozapine or ziprasidone and were assessed at baseline and at weeks 12 and 18 of treatment with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). In addition, executive functioning was assessed with the Stroop Test, and processing speed was assessed with Trail Making Test Parts A and B. Statistically significant improvements within each group were seen at 12 weeks in the ziprasidone group in learning and delayed recall on the RAVLT and Trail Making Test Parts A and B (P <.05). Patients treated with clozapine improved on the RAVLT, but not on the Trail Making Test. Although the composite cognitive score improved in both groups, the improvements were significantly larger in the ziprasidone group (P =.029). "At week 18, ziprasidone was superior to clozapine on two measures of processing speed," Dr. Harvey said. He noted further, "Improving processing speed is a critical goal for the reduction of disability in schizophrenia," because this area is the greatest single cognitive deficit in these patients, and because this deficit is linked to several aspects of functional outcome. Funding for this study was provided by Pfizer Inc. [Presentation title: Cognitive Effects of Ziprasidone and Clozapine: Results From an 18-Week Double-Blind Trial. Abstract P.3.c.016] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.