Long-acting Paliperidone Palmitate Injection and Olanzapine for Schizophrenia

A randomized trial of olanzapine and Long-acting paliperidone palmitate injection in the treatment of 100 treatment- naive first-episode patients with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: Investigator compared the efficiency, social function, cognitive function and side effect of olanzapine and Long-acting paliperidone palmitate injection in the treatment of first-episode drug-naive patients with schizophrenia.

METHODS:

1. Clinical Trial: This is a randomized trial in treatment-naive first-episode patients with schizophrenia. The study consists of a 1-week stabilization phase, followed by 12 weeks of treatment. The total trial duration is 13 weeks.
2. Assessment Procedures:

2.1. Primary Outcome Variable-psychopathology: Assessment instruments include the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) and the Clinical Global Impression (ICG). Patients are interviewed at screening, at week-4, at week-1, at baseline and at every two weeks, for a total of 12 ratings.

2.2. Cognitive tests: A comprehensive battery of tests encompassing the cognitive domains of executive function, attention, memory, perception, and general intellect is administered twice at baseline and at the end of 16-week treatment by a trained psychologist. Scoring follows standardized procedures. The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) is administered as a measure of executive function. The N-back (0-3 back) test is administered as a measure of working memory. Logical Memory I and II, Verbal Paired Associates I and II, Visual Reproduction I and II and Digits Forward from the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R) are administered as a tests of episodic memory. The Distractibility version of Gordon Continuous Performance Test (CPT)is administered as a test of attention. A four-subtest version of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R), consisting of the Arithmetic, Similarities, Picture Completion, and Digit Symbol Substitution tests is administered to obtain an estimate of current Full- Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ).

2.3. Social functioning: The Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP) examines the four dimensions of social functioning: Socially useful activities including work and study, personal and social relationships, self-care, disturbing and aggressive behaviors.

2.4. Side Effects: Parkinsonism is rated with the Simpson-Angus Scale for extrapyramidal side effects (SAS). The Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) is chosen to assess tardive dyskinesia (TD) severity. All of the AIMS and Simpson-Angus Rating Scales are administered by the same investigator, at screening, at week-4, at week-1, at baseline and at baseline and at every two weeks, for a total of 12 ratings.

2.5.Weight gain measurement: weight gain every week 2.6. Serum measurement: triglyceride, blood sugar，cholesterol，blood pressure

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder;
* Duration of symptoms not longer than 60 months;
* No prior treatment with antipsychotic medication or, if previously treated, a total lifetime usage of less than 14 days;
* Between 18 and 45 years of age; and
* Current psychotic symptoms of moderate severity.

Exclusion Criteria:

* A DSM-IV Axis I diagnosis other than schizophrenia or schizophreniform;
* Documented disease of the central nervous system that can interfere with the trial assessments including, but not limited to stroke, tumor, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, seizure disorder, history of brain trauma resulting in significant impairment, chronic, infection;
* Acute, unstable and/or significant and untreated medical illness (e.g., infection, unstable diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension);
* A clinically significant ECG abnormality in the opinion of the investigator;
* Pregnant or breast-feeding female;
* Use of disallowed concomitant therapy;
* History of severe allergy or hypersensitivity.