Amisulpride improves depressive symptoms in acute exacerbations of schizophrenia: comparison with haloperidol and risperidone.
The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) anxiety/depression subscore has been used to assess affective symptoms in three studies (n = 612) comparing amisulpride (400-800 mg/day, n = 339) with haloperidol (15-20 mg/day, n = 160) and risperidone (8 mg/day, n = 113) in the treatment of acute exacerbations of schizophrenia. At endpoint, the mean improvement in the anxiety/depression subscore showed a significant (P = 0.011) difference in favour of amisulpride (5.6+/-6.1) compared with haloperidol (4.4+/-5.5) and risperidone (3.7+/-4.7). Amisulpride provided a significantly greater improvement compared both to haloperidol and risperidone in more severely depressed patients (BPRS anxiety/depression subscore > or = 16 at baseline, P = 0.001). This significant advantage in favour of amisulpride is seen from the 2nd week of treatment.
Psychiatrisch Instituut, Universitair Centrum Sint Jozef, Leuvensesteenweg 517, 3070, Kortenberg, Belgium. jozef.peuskens@uc-kortenberg.be
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J
Peuskens
H J
HJ
Möller
A
A
Puech
D000328:Adult; D000077582:Amisulpride; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D013469:Sulpiride; D000077582:Amisulpride; D006220:Haloperidol; D018967:Risperidone