Comparison of Quetiapine and Risperidone in Treatment of Acute Psychosis: A Double-Blind, Randomized-Controlled Study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Quetiapine versus Risperidone in control of acute psychotic signs and symptoms in hospitalized patients during four weeks.

METHODS: In this double-blind, randomized controlled study, a total of 90 patients with a confirmed diagnosis acute psychosis and were hospitalized in Zare Hospital, Sari, Iran, and they were treated with Quetiapine (mean 500 mg/day) or Risperidone (mean 5.2 mg/day) , in a 4 week period. The positive and negative symptoms scale (PANSS) and Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale (CGI-s) were used to assess psychotic symptoms and severity of illness in first and the last day of the study.

RESULTS: No significant difference found between two groups in decreasing positive and negative sub-scores in the PANSS. Risperidone was superior to Quetiapine in decreasing the PANSS general psychopathology sub-scores and total score (p< 0.05). No significant difference found between two groups in decreasing CGI-s score.