Objective  To explore the clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine decoction combined with aripiprazole in the treatment of chronic schizophrenia.

  Methods  Sixty patients with chronic schizophrenia were randomly divided into combined treatment group (traditional Chinese medicine decoction combined with aripiprazole) and single treatment group (aripiprazole only), with 30 cases in each group. The score of positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS), quality of life, incidence of adverse reactions and clinical efficacy were compared between the two groups.

  Results  The scores of psychopathology, positive symptoms, negative symptoms and PANSS in both groups after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment (P < 0.05), and the scores of items mentioned above in the combined treatment group were significantly lower than those in the single treatment group (P < 0.05). The scores of symptoms/side effects, energy/motivation, psychological/social and total score of Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale (SQLS) in both groups after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment (P < 0.05), and the scores of items mentioned above in the combined treatment group were significantly lower than those in the single treatment group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence rate of adverse reactions between the two groups (P>0.05). The total effective rate of the combined treatment group was 96.7%, which was significantly higher than 80.0% of the single treatment group (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  Traditional Chinese medicine decoction combined with aripiprazole is effective in the treatment of chronic schizophrenia.