An exploratory open‐label trial of aripiprazole as an adjuvant to clozapine therapy in chronic schizophrenia

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Abstract
Objective: We conducted this 6‐week open‐label trial to examine the effects of adjunctive aripiprazole in clozapine‐treated subjects on weight, lipid and glucose metabolism, as well as positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Method: Ten clozapine‐treated subjects received aripiprazole augmentation; eight completed the 6‐week trial and two ended at week 4. Eighty percent were male, the mean age was 38.7 ± 8.9 years and the mean clozapine dose was 455 ± 83 mg daily. Results: There was a significant decrease in weight (P = 0.003), body mass index (P = 0.004), fasting total serum cholesterol (P = 0.002) and total triglycerides (P = 0.04) comparing baseline to study endpoint. There was no significant change in total Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale scores. Conclusion: This combination may be useful for clozapine‐associated medical morbidity and must be studied in placebo‐controlled double‐blind randomized trials to determine efficacy and safety.