Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy and safety of aripiprazole in treating schizophrenia with clozaping as control.Methods70 cases with schizophrenia were randomly divided into the experimental and control group with 35 cases in each group.The effectiveness and safety were evaluated with positive and negative syndrome scale and treatment emergent symptoms scale before and at the ends of week 1,2,4,6,and 8 after starting treatment respectively.ResultsThere was no significant difference in effectiveness between two groups.However,the score reduce rates about cognitive factors and negative symptoms of the aripiprazole group was better than that of the clozaping group(P<0.05).The main side effects in aripiprazole group were mild headache,anxiety,insomnia and etc.ConclusionAripiprazole is an effective and safe neuroleptic,specifically in improving cognitive function and negative symptoms.

Key words: aripiprazole, clozapine, schizophrenia