Open Access Research Article

Systematic Review of Methodical Local Studies Re Usefulness of Antidepressants on Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Saeed Shoja Shafti*

Full Professor of Psychiatry, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (USWR), Iran

Corresponding Author

Received Date: January 11, 2021;  Published Date: February 02, 2021

Introduction: Though negative symptoms are a real barricade against effective recovery in schizophrenia, their management by add-on antidepressants has produced changeable consequences. In the current study, some of the local systematic published studies have been the subject of a systematic review, to assess the effectiveness of adjunctive antidepressants on negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

Methods: Following probing in identified databank, eight home-based appropriate randomized clinical trials, containing 277 male participants, was nominated. All samples were selected among the long-lasting male patients, meeting the diagnosis of schizophrenia in line with ‘Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders’, 4th edition, text revision, who entered into double-blind studies for random assignment to an antidepressant or placebo in addition to their current antipsychotic medications. In the said trials, the ‘Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms’ was the primary outcome measure for assessment of negative symptoms. Moreover, response was demarcated as a decrease of ⩾20% in the score of the said measure (total and/or subscales).

Results: analysis of Combined Effect Size showed a significant positive influence of antidepressants on negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Similar results, too, were palpable separately with reference to different sub-scales of primary outcome measure. Anhedonia -Asociality displayed the best response, followed by Affective Blunting, Avolition –Apathy, Attention Deficit, and finally Alogia. Heterogeneity of the said analysis was insignificant and acceptable.

Conclusion: Antidepressants have promising sound effects with respect to improvement of negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

Keywords:Schizophrenia; Negative symptoms; Deficit syndrome; Adjuvant antidepressants; Noradrenergic antidepressants; Serotonergic antidepressants; Pharmacotherapy

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