NICE recommends aripiprazole

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's (NICE) Final Appraisal Determination (FAD) has recommended the use of Abilify (aripiprazole) as an option for the treatment of schizophrenia in people aged 15 to 17 years who are intolerant of risperidone, or for whom risperidone is contraindicated, or whose schizophrenia has not been adequately controlled with risperidone.

Aripiprazole received its first EU approval in 2004. In the UK it is the only commonly-used atypical anti-psychotic licensed for the treatment of adolescent schizophrenia and the first to be appraised by NICE.

The announcement of NICE's forthcoming guidance, which will offer patients in the UK access to a cost-effective treatment for their condition, has been welcomed by patient groups.

According to Marjorie Wallace, CBE, chief executive of mental health charity, SANE: "Everyone's biochemistry differs and the more we can find a choice of medications to target individual needs, with side-effects that can be tolerated, the more we can help people to manage their condition."

"This is particularly important in teenagers: schizophrenia often strikes at this time and it is vital to find effective treatment and prevent relapse, With better medications and therapies, the lives of young people with schizophrenia can be greatly improved," Wallace said.