Clinical study on efficacy of quetiapine combined with clonazepam treated with acute agitation in schizophrenia patients

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and adverse effects of quetiapine combined with clonazepam versus chlorpromazine or clozapine in the treatment of acute agitation in schizophrenia. Method:A total of 182 schizophrenics with acute moderate agitation were randomly received quetiapine combined with clonazepam(n=62) or chlorpromazine(n=60) or clozapine(n=60) treatment for a week.The patients were simultaneously assessed with the positive and negative syndrome scale excited components(PANSS-EC)and treatment emergent signs and symptoms(TESS)before and at the end of first week treatment. Results:The efficacy of quetiapine combined with clonazepam was comparable to chlorpromazine or clozapine (P0.05).Incidence of extrapyramidal side-effects was significantly higher in chlorpromazine than quetiapine and clozapine(P0.01).And clozapine was more easily to induce drowsiness, constipation, salivation and tachycardia than other groups(P0.05). Conclusion:Quetiapine combined with clonazepam is efficacious for acute agitation in schizophrenia,and produces fewer side effects.