Antipsychotic augmentation with venlafaxine for treatment of negative symptoms in chronic schizophrenia - A case series

E.B. Mukaetova-Ladinska, Joaquim Alves da Silva, J. Darley

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Negative symptoms represent a core feature in schizophrenia and the deficit syndrome in chronic schizophrenic patients is closely related to their poor outcome and global failure in community adaptation. Atypical antipsychotics have been widely used in the treatment of negative symptoms in schizophrenia, and tend to produce a better response when used in association with antidepressants. We describe a case series of patients with a clinical diagnosis of residual type of schizophrenia, who have undergone an augmentative treatment of antipsychotic medication with venlafaxine. Both primary and secondary negative symptoms, as well as the overall functioning in these patients were substantially improved following this treatment. This is the first clinical study describing the combination of venlafaxine with both conventional antipsychotics and novel antipsychotics, such as risperidone, to treat successfully both secondary and primary negative symptoms in schizophrenia. We also discuss possible modes of action of the joint use of this particular antidepressant with antipsychotic medication. © 2010.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)164-168
Number of pages5
JournalMacedonian Journal of Medical Sciences
Volume3
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

Keywords

  • Antipsychotics
  • Negative symptoms
  • Schizophrenia
  • Venlafaxine
  • antidepressant agent
  • atypical antipsychotic agent
  • flupentixol
  • risperidone
  • serotonin noradrenalin reuptake inhibitor
  • thioridazine
  • trifluoperazine
  • venlafaxine
  • zuclopenthixol
  • add on therapy
  • adult
  • aged
  • article
  • case report
  • chronic disease
  • disease duration
  • drug dose increase
  • drug dose titration
  • drug efficacy
  • drug substitution
  • drug withdrawal
  • female
  • human
  • male
  • mental disease
  • Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale
  • psychopharmacotherapy
  • schizophrenia
  • symptom
  • treatment outcome

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