Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice

Onset of action of atypical and typical antipsychotics in the treatment of acute psychosis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Seyed Ghafur Mousavi 1
. Hamze Rostami 1
. Mohammad Reza Sharbafchi 2
. Atefeh Saeidi Boroujeni 3
. Behzad Mahaki 4

1 Department of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

3 Department of Psychiatry, Azad University of Najaf Abad, Isfahan, Iran

4 Department of Biostatistics, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract
Objective: Antipsychotic medications are the frontline treatment for the most psychotic 
disorders. The aim of this study is to compare the onset of action of the first and second 
generation antipsychotics and the rate of their side‑effects in the treatment of acute 
psychosis.
Methods: In a double‑blind, controlled clinical trial, 40 acute psychotic patients were 
randomly allocated in four groups and treated with each of the four antipsychotics: 
olanzapine, risperidone, haloperidol or thiothixene. The onset of action of each drug 
was assessed by the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale. The data were analyzed by 
Wilcoxon (Gehan) survival and Log Rank analysis, using SPSS version 20.0.
Findings: Initial response was observed in 97.5% (N = 39) of subjects during 2 weeks of 
intervention. The mean time to the first response was 6.15 ± 2.9 days and this was significantly 
shorter for risperidone than others. The most common side‑effects were sedation and 
drug induced Parkinsonism.
Conclusion: Risperidone represented shorter onset of action for the treatment of acute 
psychotic symptoms compared with olanzapine, haloperidol and thiothixene.

Keywords

Acute psychosis
antipsychotic
onset of action
response
side effect
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Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice
Volume 2, Issue 4
Autumn 2013
Pages 138-144

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