Efficacy of antidepressants in treating the negative symptoms of chronic schizophrenia: meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Treatment of negative symptoms in chronic schizophrenia continues to be a major clinical issue.


OBJECTIVE
To analyse the efficacy of add-on antidepressants for the treatment of negative symptoms of chronic schizophrenia.


METHODS
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials comparing the effect of antidepressants and placebo on the negative symptoms of chronic schizophrenia, measured through standardised rating scales. Outcome was measured as standardised mean difference between end-of-trial and baseline scores of negative symptoms.


RESULTS
There were 23 trials from 22 publications (n = 819). The antidepressants involved were selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, mirtazapine, reboxetine, mianserin, trazodone and ritanserin; trials on other antidepressants were not available. The overall standardised mean difference was moderate (-0.48) in favour of antidepressants and subgroup analysis revealed significant responses for fluoxetine, trazodone and ritanserin.


CONCLUSIONS
Antidepressants along with antipsychotics are more effective in treating the negative symptoms of schizophrenia than antipsychotics alone.
Singh
Surendra P
SP
University of Wolverhampton and Step to Health, Wolverhampton City Primary Care Trust, UK. Dr.S.Singh@wlv.ac.uk
Singh
Vidhi
V
Kar
Nilamadhab
N
Chan
Kelvin
K
D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation