Journal of International Psychiatry

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effect of aripiprazole in combination with escitalopram on cognitive and social function of first-episode schizophrenic patients. Methods: A total of 140 cases of first-episode schizophrenic patients were randomly divided into observation group and control group, with 70 cases in each group. Patients in control group were given aripiprazole for treatment, and those in observation group were given escitalopram in combination with aripiprazole for treatment. After 6 months of treatment,The clinical symptoms, cognitive function and social function of the patients were evaluated by the positive and negative symptom scale (PANSS), Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST) and social dysfunction screening scale (SDSS). Results: The scores of positive symptoms, negative symptoms, general psychopathology symptoms and accessory symptoms and PANSS aggregate score in observation group were significantly lower than those in control group (P<0.05); the finished number of categories, the number of correct answers and the percentage of conceptual level were significantly higher than those in control group, the number of preservative errors was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.05); the scores of social withdrawal, out of family activities, inner family activities, family function, personal daily life activity and interest in outside world were significantly lower than those in control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Aripiprazole in combination with escitalopram can help relieve the clinical symptoms and improve cognitive and social function of first-episode schizophrenic patients.

Key words: first episode schizophrenia; Aripiratole; Ai Sciplan; cognitive function; social function