A comparative study to assess the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of amisulpride versus olanzapine in schizophrenia patients at psychiatry outpatient department

Abstract

Background: Among psychiatric illnesses, schizophrenia remains a chronic debilitating disorder. Although newer atypical antipsychotics have shown better improvement in schizophrenia patients, they are still lacking conclusive evidence-based studies. Aims and Objectives: The comparative evaluation of amisulpride versus olanzapine in terms of therapeutic efficacy and their cost in schizophrenia patients. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, open-label comparative study. Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia were randomly allocated into two treatment arms. One group (n = 50) was treated with olanzapine, and another group (n = 50) was treated with amisulpride. Patients were followed up for 12 weeks. Positive and negative syndrome scale score assessments were done to evaluate the efficacy parameter. Antipsychotic drug costs were also studied. Results: In the treatment duration, it was observed that the positive and negative syndrome scores were 42.7% in the olanzapine-administered group, whereas the score was 33.8% in patients treated with amisulpride. The reduction in clinical global impression (CGI) score was 57% in the olanzapine group and 37% in the amisulpride group. The cost range for amisulpride was (Rs) 52.5–115.9 and for olanzapine was (Rs) 6.7–13.1 per positive and negative syndrome score improvement. Conclusion: A significant decrease in positive and negative syndrome scores and CGI scores was evident in both groups treated with amisulpride and olanzapine, but olanzapine is more efficacious and cost-effective than amisulpride.