Effect of Switch to Aripiprazole on Health and Smoking Parameters in Patients With Schizophrenia: A Pilot Study

This is an 8 week open label trial being conducted in stable adult outpatients with schizophrenia who are smokers. The primary intervention is a switch in the subject's antipsychotic to aripiprazole, flexibly dosed between 15-30 mg/day. The outcome measures include a rating of smoking behavior using the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, and saliva cotinine obtained at baseline and endpoint. Secondary measures include weight, serum glucose and lipids, rating of symptom severity using the PANSS, and both ratings and instrumental measures of motor functioning. We anticipate enrolling up to 25 subjects to obtain the needed 15 completers at the week 8 endpoint.