title: Amisulpride versus risperidone in the treatment of depression in patients with schizophrenia: a randomized, open-label, controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effectiveness of amisulpride on depression in patients with schizophrenia, in comparison to risperidone.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this open-label, 12-week study, patients with stable schizophrenia and a comorbid major or minor depressive episode (DSM-IV) taking risperidone were randomized into a risperidone-continuation group (N = 45) or an amisulpride-switch group (N = 42). The main outcome measures were changes from baseline on the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Secondary efficacy measures included the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and the Global Assessment of Functioning. Safety measures included treatment-emergent adverse events and extrapyramidal symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean dose at endpoint was 4.2 mg/day for risperidone and 458.3 mg/day for amisulpride. Improvements in the CDSS and BDI scores were significantly greater in the amisulpride-switch group than in the risperidone-continuation group at weeks 8 and 12, and at the endpoint. The amisulpride-switch group also showed a significantly greater reduction in the score for the PANSS depression/anxiety factor, and the total score from baseline to endpoint. No significant difference was observed between the two groups for treatment-emergent adverse events or change from baseline for extrapyramidal symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Switching from risperidone to amisulpride in patients with stable schizophrenia with comorbid depression improved depressive symptoms significantly compared to continuing with risperidone.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, 5 Hak-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju 501-746, Republic of Korea.
authors: Sung-Wan
authors: SW
authors: Kim
authors: Il-Seon
authors: IS
authors: Shin
authors: Jae-Min
authors: JM
authors: Kim
authors: Seung-Hyun
authors: SH
authors: Lee
authors: Jeong-Hoon
authors: JH
authors: Lee
authors: Bo-Hyun
authors: BH
authors: Yoon
authors: Su-Jin
authors: SJ
authors: Yang
authors: Michael Y
authors: MY
authors: Hwang
authors: Jin-Sang
authors: JS
authors: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000077582:Amisulpride; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018967:Risperidone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications*; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D013469:Sulpiride; D000077582:Amisulpride; D018967:Risperidone