In previous clinical studies of Abilify for the treatment of schizophrenia, people taking the medication experienced improvements in their schizophrenia symptoms (including hallucinations and suspiciousness), compared to those not taking it. Longer studies also showed that the drug can help keep symptoms from returning.
Previous clinical studies have also shown Abilify to be effective for
bipolar disorder treatment. In these studies, the drug was effective at treating episodes of mania or mixed episodes (involving both mania and depression). It also helped prevent
bipolar disorder symptoms from returning.
Abilify has also been studied for treating major depression (when used along with
antidepressants). These studies evaluated people who had not responded adequately to depression medications alone. Adding this medication significantly reduced depression symptoms, compared to adding a placebo (a "sugar pill" with no active ingredient).
Researchers have also studied Abilify for treating irritability associated with autism in children (age 6 through 17). In these studies, children taking Abilify showed improvement in their irritability symptoms (aggression towards others, deliberate self-harm, temper tantrums, and quickly changing moods), compared to children taking a placebo.
(Click Abilify to learn more about the effects of Abilify, for information on how the medication works, and to find out what forms and strengths are available for this medicine.)