Velocity of response to atypical and typical antipsychotics in the treatment of acute psychosis

Objective: Antipsychotic drugs are the first-line therapy of psychotic disorders. The aim of this study is to compare the response rapidity of the first and second generation antipsychotics in the treatment of acute psychosis. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial, thirty patients with acute psychosis were randomly allocated into three groups and treated with each of the three antipsychotics: Aripiprazole, risperidone, and perphenazine. The onset of response to each drug was assessed by the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale. Results: Initial response was seen in 66.6 % of subjects during two weeks of intervention. The mean time of response in the risperidone group was 9.6 days, in the aripiprazole group 11.1 days, and in the perphenazine group 11.3 days. Individuals who received risperidone reached the event sooner than the other two groups. Conclusion: The result of this trial suggested that the response rate of the proposed three drugs was equal, but the onset of action of aripiprazole was slower than risperidone and perphenazine.