Institute of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Bristol-Myers Squibb, Wallingford, Connecticut, USA
Comprehensive NeuroScience Inc, Northwest, Washington DC, USA
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization Inc, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
Bristol-Myers Squibb, Wallingford, Connecticut, USA
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization Inc, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
Bristol-Myers Squibb, Wallingford, Connecticut, USA
Bristol-Myers Squibb, Braine-lAlleud, Belgium
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization Inc, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
Correspondence: Allan H. Young, LEEF Chair and Co-Director, Institute of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Suite 430–5950 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada. Email: allanyoun{at}gmail.com
This study was supported by Bristol-Myers Squibb (Princeton, New Jersey) and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd (Tokyo, Japan). A.H.Y received speaker fees from numerous pharmaceutical companies, including Bristol-Myers Squibb, for lecturing on this topic. A.L. received speaker fees from Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca and Pfizer. R.D.McQ., R.S. and W.H.C. are employees of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization Inc. D.A.O., R.N.M., N.H.S. and A.F.T. are employees of Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Background
Well-tolerated and effective therapies for bipolar mania are required.
Aims
To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of aripiprazole as acute and maintenance of effect therapy in patients with bipolar I disorder experiencing manic or mixed episodes.
Method
Patients were randomised to double-blind aripiprazole (15 or 30 mg/day; n=167), placebo (n=153) or haloperidol (5–15 mg/day, n=165) for 3 weeks (trial registration NCT00097266). Aripiprazole- and haloperidol-treated patients remained on masked treatment for 9 additional weeks.
Results
Mean change in Young Mania Rating Scale Total score (primary end-point) at week 3 was significantly greater with aripiprazole (–12.0; P<0.05) and haloperidol (–12.8; P<0.01) than with placebo (–9.7). Improvements were maintained to week 12 for aripiprazole (–17.2) and haloperidol (–17.8). Aripiprazole was well tolerated. Extrapyramidal adverse events were more frequent with haloperidol than aripiprazole (53.3% v. 23.5%).
Conclusions
Clinical improvements with aripiprazole were sustained to week 12. Aripiprazole was generally well tolerated.
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