Findings related to effectiveness ( treatment discontinuation , quality of life , and neurocognitive improvements ) were generally consistent with those observed in non-Chinese population s. No new safety signals specific for Chinese population s were raised for olanzapine .
Chinese and non-Chinese population s with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder treated with olanzapine display broadly similar responses .
BACKGROUND Despite the burden of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in the Chinese population , country-specific data to guide practitioners regarding antipsychotic therapy are lacking .
A Double-Blind, Randomized Comparative Study of Aripiprazole and Olanzapine in Patients with Schizophrenia
BACKGROUND Few studies have directly compared the efficacy and tolerability of atypical agents . METHODS This multicenter , r and omized , double-blind study compared the efficacy and tolerability of aripiprazole  ( n = 355 ) with olanzapine  ( n = 348 ) in patients with schizophrenia experiencing acute relapse . After a 6-week acute treatment phase , patients with Clinical Global Impression-Improvement = 1 - 3 or > or = 20 % reduction in the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale ( PANSS ) Total score could progress to the 46-week outpatient extension phase . Co- primary study objectives were to compare efficacy at Week 6 and weight gain liability from baseline to Week 26 . RESULTS The mean olanzapine dose was 15.4 mg/day compared with a mean aripiprazole dose of 23.0 mg/day . More patients treated with olanzapine ( 47 % ) completed the 52-week study than those treated with aripiprazole ( 39 % ) ; time to discontinuation was significantly in favor of olanzapine ( p < .05 ) . At Week 6 , mean change in PANSS Total score  ( olanzapine , -29.5 ; aripiprazole , -24.6 [ r and om regression model ] ) showed a treatment difference of 4.9 points . As the pre-specified non-inferiority margin ( 6 points ) was within the 95 % confidence interval ( 2.2 - 7.6 ) for treatment difference , olanzapine proved to be superior to aripiprazole on this measure . More patients experienced significant weight gain at Week 26 with olanzapine ( 40 % ) than with aripiprazole ( 21 % ; p < .05 [ weighted generalized estimating equation analysis ] ) , with significant differences observed from Week 3 . Mean weight gain at Week 26 was significantly greater with olanzapine than with aripiprazole ( + 4.30 kg vs. + .13 kg , respectively ) . CONCLUSIONS Olanzapine had a statistically significant efficacy advantage over aripiprazole , whereas aripiprazole was associated with significantly less weight gain
Findings related to effectiveness ( treatment discontinuation , quality of life , and neurocognitive improvements ) were generally consistent with those observed in non-Chinese population s. No new safety signals specific for Chinese population s were raised for olanzapine .
Chinese and non-Chinese population s with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder treated with olanzapine display broadly similar responses .
BACKGROUND Despite the burden of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in the Chinese population , country-specific data to guide practitioners regarding antipsychotic therapy are lacking .