One factor greatly influencing the prognosis and progression of the Schizophrenia is compliance and it is essential to find new drugs which carry minimal side effects.

To identify the profile of patients who are treated with aAripiprazole and to assess the effectiveness, tolerability and treatment adherence.

This was a multicentre, observational, retrospective study with participation of 200 psychiatrists. Data from the medical records of patients treated with aAripiprazole with at least two months were collected between October and December 2005.

A total of 997 patients were included. 95% of patients had been treated with another drug prior to receiving aAripiprazole. The pattern for switching from the previous treatment was substitution in 75% of cases and addition in 25%. Reasons for switching were: 56,6% lack of efficacy and 35,6% adverse reactions. The investigator's assessment of aAripiprazole's effectiveness and tolerability showed these was very good or good in 76% and 90% of cases respectively. Around 87.6% showed good treatment compliance. Efficacy of treatment was correlated with duration of the disease: the proportion of patients with good efficacy is greater in patients who had suffered the disease for less than ten years (78.7 vs. 73.8%) (p=0.01).

aAripiprazole was considered to have a good effectiveness and tolerability in most patients. Effectiveness was greater in the acute phase of the disease, in patients with shorter duration of the disease and in those only taking full dose aAripiprazole