Effect of Aripiprazole on Smoking Rate in Schizophrenic Patients: ARandomised triple blinded clinical trial

Background: Ventral Tegmental Area dopaminergic neurons consist of the pathway strengtheningthe use of psychoactive substances including nicotine. Dopamine overactivity in this pathwaycould be the underlying cause of using substances. As a second-generation antipsychotic with adopamine partial agonistic activity, it seems that aripiprazole could reduce substance use byadjusting dopamine in the mentioned pathway. Among schizophrenic patients, smoking andconsequent cardiovascular diseases are more common compared with the general population. Thepurpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of aripiprazole on the smoking rate of schizophrenicpatients.Methods: This is a randomized triple-blind parallel clinical trial in which ۴۰ schizophrenicpatients were allocated to two intervention and control groups. The intervention group received۱۰mg of aripiprazole daily while the control group received a placebo. In both groups smokingrate was measured before and after the study using a standard instrument (Fagerstrom ToleranceQuestionnaire) and the obtained data were compared and statistically analyzed by SPSS.Results: There was no significant difference between the groups regarding age, duration of illness,duration of nicotine dependency and other demographic variables. The average FTQ score of theintervention group was ۸ and ۶.۴۷ before and after taking aripiprazole, respectively, indicating asignificant decrease; but in the control group, these values were ۷.۵۷ and ۷.۱۵ before and afterreceiving a placebo, respectively indicating no significant decrease. The average decline in FTQscore during the study was ۱.۵۳ and ۰.۴۲ in the intervention and control groups, respectively,which is statistically significant.Conclusion: According to this study, aripiprazole decreases the rate of nicotine dependency inmale schizophrenic patients.

Keywords:

Schizophrenia , Aripiprazole , Smoking Rate , Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire