title: Duloxetine Add-On to Risperidone for Treatment of Negative Symptoms in Patients with Stable Schizophrenia: Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the pathogenesis of symptoms of schizophrenia is largely unknown, a variety of neurotransmitters are implicated, including serotonin and norepinephrine. Here we investigate the effectiveness of duloxetine as a serotonin-norepinephrine inhibitor in the treatment of negative symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a double-blind clinical trial on 64 patients with stable schizophrenia and no prominent symptoms of depression. Patients received risperidone (up to 6 mg/day) plus either duloxetine (60 mg/day) or placebo. Psychotic symptoms were assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) at the onset of the trial, and at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to the placebo group, the duloxetine group showed significantly higher improvement in negative symptoms (p<0.001), PANSS total (p<0.001), and the general psychopathology subscale scores (p=0.001), but no significant difference in positive symptoms (p=0.13). The side effect profiles of the 2 treatment regimens were not significantly different.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Duloxetine adjuvant to risperidone seems to be a tolerable and efficacious treatment for primary negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran.
authors.forename: M-R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Nikbakhat
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arabzadeh
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zeinoddini
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Khalili
authors.affiliation: Qods Hospital, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rezaei
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mohammadinejad
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Behavioral Disorders and Substance Abuse, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghaleiha
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akhondzadeh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D018967:Risperidone