title: Amineptine treatment of persistent catatonic symptoms in schizophrenia: a controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Data on the treatment response of enduring catatonic phenomena accompanying chronic schizophrenia are few and far between. The aim of this study was to explore the therapeutic effects of add-on amineptine, a dopamine agonist antidepressant in chronic catatonia occurring in schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen subjects with DSM-IV schizophrenia presenting with persistent catatonic features underwent a 15-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over trial; they were treated for 6 weeks each with amineptine and a placebo, with a 3-week wash-out period in between. The primary outcome measures were the sum scores of the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale and the Modified Rogers Scale. Changes in other aspects of psychopathology and extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) constituted the secondary outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Amineptine augmentation of antipsychotic treatment had no appreciable effect on either of the catatonia ratings. Apart from a statistically significant but clinically negligible improvement in the negative symptom scores, there were no changes in the psychopathology and EPS ratings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lack of a therapeutic effect of the dopamine agonist amineptine on persistent catatonic signs and symptoms suggests that the dopamine system may not have a decisive role in the pathophysiology of chronic catatonic syndrome arising in the context of schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. gsungvari@gmail.com
authors.forename: Gabor S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Ungvari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003986:Dibenzocycloheptenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012560:Schizophrenia, Catatonic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D003986:Dibenzocycloheptenes; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; C011597:amineptin