Amphetamine and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
The purpose of this study was to assess further the effect of amphetamine on negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Thirty-seven schizophrenic males meeting DSM-III criteria were rated with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Abrams and Taylor Scale, and the Abnormal Involuntary Movements Scale before and after double-blind administration of either amphetamine (n = 26) or placebo (n = 11). Our results indicated that amphetamine administration generally did not improve negative symptoms, even when accounting for changes in positive symptoms. However, greater baseline negative symptoms were associated with a modest diminution after amphetamine treatment. Therefore, amphetamine may modestly improve negative symptoms in those schizophrenics in whom this symptomatology is more severe.
Sanfilipo
M
M
Department of Psychiatry, New York Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 10010, USA.
Wolkin
A
A
Angrist
B
B
van Kammen
D P
DP
Duncan
E
E
Wieland
S
S
Cooper
T B
TB
Peselow
E D
ED
Rotrosen
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000661:Amphetamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000661:Amphetamine