Journal of International Psychiatry

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of risperidone combined with escitalopram in the treatment of negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Method A randomized, double-blind, controlled study was used. 86 inpatients with schizophrenia were divided into two groups. There were 43 cases in risperidone combined with escitalopram group and 43 cases in risperidone combined with placebo group. The efficacy was assessed with the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS), Scale for assessment of negative symptoms(SANS), Personal, Social Performance Scale(PSP) and side effects with the Treatment Emergent Symptoms Scale at baseline and after 4, 8, 12-week treatment. Results From the end of the 4th week, the total scores of PANSS, negative factor of PANSS and SANS in two groups became significantly lower than pre-treatment ( P<0.01). From the end of the 4th week, the total scores of PSP became significantly higher than pre-treatment ( P<0.01). At the end of 8th and 12th, the scores of negative factor of PANSS, SANS and the scores of global rating of subscale in the group of risperidone combined with escitalopram were significantly lower than control group( P<0.01). The time main effects, group main effects and interaction effects of the total scores of negative factor of PANSS, SANS and PSP were all statistically significant (P<0.01) in the groups of risperidone combined with escitalopram and risperidone combined with placebo. The side effect differences were not statistically significant in the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion risperidone combined with escitalopram has synergistic sffect on negative symptoms of schizophrenia and is rather safety.

Escitalopram；Schizophrenia；clinical effects