A Study to Evaluate Flexible Dose of Paliperidone Extended Release (ER) and Clinical Response in Participants With Schizophrenia

An Open Label, Prospective, Non-Comparative Study to Evaluate Flexible Dose of Paliperidone ER and Clinical Response in the Treatment of Subjects With Schizophrenia

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of paliperidone ER for the treatment of schizophrenia (psychiatric disorder with symptoms of emotional instability, detachment from reality, often with delusions and hallucinations, and withdrawal into the self) participants.

This is a multi-center (when more than one hospital or medical school team work on a medical research study), open-label (all people know the identity of the intervention), prospective (study following participants forward in time), non-comparative study. The total study duration will be 12 weeks for each participant and will include following visits: Screening, Week 2, 4, 8, and 12 (end of treatment or early withdrawal). The effectiveness of paliperidone ER will be evaluated at Week 12 by the proportion of responders who are evaluated as "very much improved" or "much improved" on the Clinical Global Impression improvement (CGI-I) Scale. Participants' safety will also be monitored throughout the study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participants who are diagnosed with schizophrenia (according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [Edition 4] criteria)
• Participants with Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) score greater than or equal to 4 points (moderately ill) at Screening
• Childbearing potential women who consented to the consistent use of the acceptable contraception (oral contraceptive, contraceptive injection, intrauterine device, double barrier method and contraceptive patch)
• Participants who are capable of and willing to fill out the questionnaire for themselves
• Participants who are compliant with self-medication or can receive consistent help or support

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants with the past history of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (high fever, rigid muscles, shaking, confusion, sweating more than usual, increased heart rate or blood pressure, or muscle pain or weakness)
• Participants with allergy or hypersensitivity to risperidone or paliperidone
• Participants who have taken clozapine, or have been exposed to the study drug within one month before screening
• Participants who have been treated with the long acting antipsychotic injection within 28 days
• Participants with significant risk including suicide or aggressive behavior