Efficacy of ziprasidone against hostility in schizophrenia: Post hoc analysis of randomized, open-label study data.

Objective: The objective was to determine the effects of sequential intramuscular/oral ziprasi-done on hostility.

Method: A total of 572 inpatients diagnosed with DSM-IV schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were the subjects in a randomized, rater-blinded, 6-week, open-label study comparing sequential intramuscular and oral ziprasidone with haloperidol. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) was the principal outcome measure. To determine the effect of ziprasidone on hostility, post hoc analyses of scores on the hostility item from the BPRS were conducted. Introducing positive symptoms and akathisia as covariates tested specific antihostility effect. The study was conducted from October 23, 1998, to August 15, 2000.

Results: Ziprasidone demonstrated specific antihostility effects over time throughout the 42-day study period and statistically significant superiority to haloperidol on this measure in the first week of treatment (p = .0149 at first evaluation [day 1, 2, or 3]; p = .0358 at day 7).

Conclusion: Ziprasidone is an effective treatment for hostility in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.