Amisulpride versus risperidone in the treatment of depression in patients with schizophrenia: a randomized, open-label, controlled trial.
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.
Kim
Sung-Wan
SW
Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, 5 Hak-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju 501-746, Republic of Korea.
Shin
Il-Seon
IS
Kim
Jae-Min
JM
Lee
Seung-Hyun
SH
Lee
Jeong-Hoon
JH
Yoon
Bo-Hyun
BH
Yang
Su-Jin
SJ
Hwang
Michael Y
MY
Yoon
Jin-Sang
JS
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
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D013469:Sulpiride; D000077582:Amisulpride; D018967:Risperidone