Efficacy of paliperidone extended-release tablets on improving social function in acute patients with schizophrenia

Objective To compare the effects of paliperidone extended-release(paliperidone ER) tablets with commonly used typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs on social function in acute patients with schizophrenia.Methods A total of 154 patients were divided into three treatment groups: the typical antipsychotics group(Typical Group),the atypical antipsychotics group(Atypical Group) and the paliperidone extended-release tablets group(Paliperidone Group).All patients were assessed with the Positive and Negative Symptoms scale(PANSS),and the Personal and Social Performance scale(PSP) before and after each treatment regime.Results At the end of the 4th week of treatment,the Paliperidone Group had significantly lower scores for both total and sub-factors on PANSS than the Atypical Group,and the latter had lower scores than the Typical Group(P0.01 or P0.05).At the ends of the 12th and 24th week of treatment,the Atypical Group and the Paliperidone Group both had significantly lower total scores and negative symptom scores than the Typical Group(P0.05 or P0.01).Assessed with the PSP at the ends of the 4th,12th and 24th week,the Paliperidone Group scored significantly higher than the Atypical Group(P0.01),and even higher than the Typical Group(P0.05).Conclusion Psychotic symptoms and social function can be improved with antipsychotic drugs in the acute phase of schizophrenia patients,and atypical antipsychotics,especially paliperidone ER are superior to typical antipsychotics.