ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the efficacy and safety of Jieyu Anshen Decoction (JAD) combined with aripiprazole in treating chronic schizophrenia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>All 100 patients with chronic schizophrenia diagnosed according to CCMD-3 criteria were equally randomly assigned to the study group (treated with JAD combined with aripiprazole) and the control group (treated with aripiprazole alone) for 12 weeks. The efficacy and safety were evaluated by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Treatment Emergent Side Effect Scale (TESS).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 12 weeks of treatment, the clinical efficacy in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group, the PANSS score in the study group was significantly decreased with a higher speed and range of decreasing, becoming lower than that in the control group at the same period. But the difference between the two groups in scores of TESS at corresponding times showed no significance.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>JAD combined with aripiprazole has definite effect in treating chronic schizophrenia, shows advantages of quickly initiating effect, high safety and with no harm for increasing adverse reactions, so it is better than using aripiprazole alone.</p>