Efficacy and safety of quetiapine for depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy and safety of quetiapine for depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.


METHODS
Thirty-nine patients fulfilling DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia and had depressive symptoms were studied in a prospective 6-week open-label design using quetiapine monotherapy. The brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS), 17-item Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD-17), Simpson-Angus rating scale, and the Barnes Akathisia rating scale (BARS) were used to assess patients at baseline, week 1, 2, 4, and 6.


RESULTS
Thirty patients (76.9%) completed this study. The dose of quetiapine at endpoint was 583 (+/-235 SD) mg/day. Treatment with Quetiapine was associated with significantly reduced depressive symptoms (HAMD-17 total score and BPRS depression/anxiety subscale) from the first week of treatment. Changes of mean score from baseline to endpoint were 7.8 +/- 6.2 for HAMD-17 total score and 3.4 +/- 3.6 for BPRS depression/anxiety subscale (LOCF, n = 39, p < 0.001). Quetiapine was well tolerated, with minimal extrapyramidal symptoms and non-significant increase in body weight (mean increase of 0.8 kg).


CONCLUSIONS
While the interpretation of findings from the open-label design of this study warrants appropriate caution, the results suggest that quetiapine may be an effective and tolerable treatment for depression in patients with schizophrenia.
Lee
Kyoung-Uk
KU
Department of Psychiatry, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Korea.
Jeon
Yang-Whan
YW
Lee
Hae-Kook
HK
Jun
Tae-Youn
TY
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate