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Molindone for schizophrenia and severe mental illness
A Bagnall1, M Fenton, J Kleijnen
1Leeds Metropolitan University, School of Health & Community Care, Calverley Street, Leeds, UK, LS1 3HE. A.Bagnall@leedsmet.ac.uk
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|January 27, 2007
Summary
Molindone, an antipsychotic, shows no significant difference in effectiveness compared to typical antipsychotics for schizophrenia. However, it causes more weight loss and lacks evidence of an atypical profile.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Antipsychotic therapy is a primary treatment for schizophrenia.
- Newer atypical antipsychotics reduce movement disorders and prolactin levels.
- Molindone has been proposed as an atypical antipsychotic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare molindone with placebo, typical, and atypical antipsychotics for schizophrenia.
- To evaluate the efficacy and side effect profile of molindone.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
- Searched multiple databases (e.g., MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycLIT) and contacted manufacturers.
- Analyzed data using intention-to-treat, calculating relative risks and confidence intervals.
Main Results:
- Fourteen studies were included, with trial durations varying.
- No significant difference in global assessment efficacy between molindone and placebo.
- Molindone showed comparable effectiveness to typical antipsychotics but caused significantly more weight loss.
Conclusions:
- Evidence for molindone is limited by small sample sizes and incomplete reporting.
- Molindone's adverse effect profile is similar to typical antipsychotics, except for weight loss.
- Current data do not support classifying molindone as an atypical antipsychotic.
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