Early Prediction of Clinical Response in Patients With Schizophrenia Treated by Paliperidone ER

Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders will be enrolled in the 6-week trial. Eligible patients will receive 9mg paliperidone ER first. Then, the dosage of paliperidone could be adjusted two weeks later according to clinical judgement. They will be followed and receive assessment of pharmacokinetics, metabolic parameters ( lipid profiles, glucose, insulin, adiponectin, leptin, and prolactin, etc.), and the treatment response.

Inclusion criteria

• diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV)
• a minimal baseline total score of 60 on the PANSS
• those who had not received long-acting antipsychotic injection for the preceding 6 months
• physically healthy and standard clinical laboratory test results within laboratory reference ranges, or if outside the ranges, judged to be clinically insignificant by the investigators.

Exclusion criteria

• diagnosis of substance (including alcohol) dependence in the previous 6 months
• a medical condition that could affect absorption, metabolism, or excretion of the study drug
• substantial risk of suicide or violent behavior
• pregnancy or breastfeeding
• documented organic disease of the central nervous system
• unstable or critical untreated medical illness
• history of clozapine treatment in the previous 3 months
• participation in an investigational drug trial in the 30 days before screening.