New Antipsychotic Strategies: Quetiapine and Risperidone vs. Fluphenazine in Treatment Resistant Schizophrenia

Inclusion Criteria: Males and Females, between ages 18 and 65 year sof age. Females of childbearing potential must agree to use medically accepted means of contraception. A diagnosis of schizophrenia according to the DSM-IV. Subjects must meet retrospective criteria for treatment-resistance as defined: Persistent positive psychotic symptoms. Current presence of at least a moderately severe illness as rated by the total BPRS. Persistence of illness- No evidence of good functioning in the last five years. Drug-refectory condition defined as at least two periods of treatment in the preceding significant symptom relief. Subjects must been judged competent to consent by the ESC evaluation and provide voluntary informed consent. Subjects must be reliable. They must agree to cooperate with all tests and examinations required by the protocol. Patients msut have a normal ophthalmoscopic exam within 6 months of a full eye exam if any lense abnormality prior to entering study. Exclusion Criteria: Females who are either pregnant or lactating. Serious medical illness including hepatic, renal, gastroenterologic, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrinologic, neurologic, immunologic, or hematologic disease such that hospitalization for the disease is anticipated within three months or death is anticipated with three years. History of severe allergies or multiple adverse drug reactions. DSM-IV substance abuse or dependence within the past month. Any DSM-IV organic mental disorder. Judged clinically to be at serious suicidal risk. Definitive failure to show clinically significant response (improved in CGI score of at least 1 point) to and adequate trial of clozapine (600mg/day for at least 6 weeks) Uncontrolled seizures within the past 6 months.