Effect of selegiline augmentation with antipsychotic drugs on treatment of the negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenic disorder

Abstract

Introduction

Considering the shortcomings of antipsychotics in treatment of negative symptoms of schizophrenic patients, the use of augmentation treatment for decreasing the negative symptoms is highly important.

Aims

The aim of this research was to study the effect of selegiline augmentation with antipsychotic drugs in decreasing the negative symptoms of schizophrenic patients.

Methods

In this double blind randomized control trial study 70 schizophrenic in- patients who were under treatment with antipsychotics were randomly divided into two intervention and control groups. The patients of both groups were given placebo for two weeks along with antipsychotics. For 12 weeks the intervention group was given selegiline 10 mg/day and control group was given placebo. The patients were evaluated with PANSS scale and Hamilton depression test at the end of first and second weeks and then at the end of every other week for twelve weeks. Then the results were analyzed statistically.

Results

There was no significant difference between intervention and control groups considering PANSS score on first and second weeks, but the difference on 4-14 weeks was statistically significant. There was also no statistically significant difference in Hamilton depression Test between the two groups in first to 10 Th weeks. But the difference was statistically significant in 12–14 weeks.

Conclusions

Augmentation treatment with selegiline can improve the negative symptoms of schizophrenic patients.