ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION The neurocognitive effects of aripiprazole: an open-label comparison with olanzapine

Rationale Cognitive deficits are a core feature of schizo-phrenia. As a target of intervention, improvements in cognition may lead to improvements in functional outcome. Objectives The present paper is the first report, to our knowl-edge, on the neurocognitive effects of aripiprazole. Unlike other second-generation antipsychotics, aripiprazole is a D2 and D3 receptor partial agonist. It is unknown what effects this unusual pharmacological profile may yield on neurocognition. Materials and methods The present open-label study included data on 169 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who were randomly treated with aripiprazole or olanzapine. Subjects received a neuro-cognitive battery at baseline, week 8, and 26. Results The aripiprazole group had a significantly greate