Author/Authors :
Omranifard, Victoria Associate Professor - Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan , Hosseini, Ghadir Mohammad Department of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences Research Center, School of Medicine and Student Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan , Sharbafchi, Mohammad Reza Department of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences Research Center, School of Medicine and Student Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan , Maracy, Mohammad Associate Professor - Psychosomatic Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan , Ghasemi, Fatemeh Clinical Psychologist, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan , Aminoroaia, Mahin Researcher - Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan
Abstract :
There have been few studies to specifically examine the efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRIs) for the symptoms of depression in schizophrenia. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of sertraline as a treatment for
depressive symptoms in patients with stable schizophrenia. METHODS: A 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
clinical trial was designed in 2010 with an active medication (sertraline) and a matching placebo. Sertraline was administrated
50-200 mg/daily. A total number of 60 patients were randomized into two groups in a 1:1 fashion. Calgary Depression Scale for
Schizophrenia (CDSS) was used as the primary measure and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale was used as the secondary
measure. The data was analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) model to determine the effectiveness
of sertraline. RSULTS: After 12 weeks, sertraline was significantly more effective than placebo in improving depressive symptoms
in stable schizophrenia (p = 0.003). The mean score of GAF did not differ significantly in the sample population as a whole
(p = 0.093). The difference between the two groups was not significant, either (p = 0.453). In addition, the rate of side effects was
little but it was significantly more in the sertraline group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggested
sertraline to be useful as a treatment for depressive symptoms in patients with stable schizophrenia.
Keywords :
Sertraline , Schizophrenia , Post-Psychotic Depressive Disorder of Schizophrenia , Subsyndromal Depressive Symptoms , Negative Symptoms , Sertraline , Schizophrenia , Post-Psychotic Depressive Disorder of Schizophrenia , Subsyndromal Depressive Symptoms , Negative Symptoms
