Efficacy and Safety of Augmentation Treatment With Amisulpride for Schizophrenic Patients Partially Responsive to Antipsychotics
10.4306/jknpa.2022.61.3.156
- Author:
Yeon-Sue KIM
1
;
Sung-Gon KIM
;
Hyeon-Kyeong KIM
;
Sung-Young HUH
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea
- Publication Type:ORIGINAL ARTICLE
- From:Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association
2022;61(3):156-161
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objectives:The response of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder patients to antipsychotics remains insufficient. Therefore, augmentation with additional antipsychotics is common in clinical practice. This study examined the efficacy and safety of amisulpride augmentation in schizophrenia patients partially responsive to antipsychotics.
Methods:Twenty-nine schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder patients without treatment response to antipsychotics monotherapy were included in this study. Psychotic symptoms were evaluated using Brief Psychiatry Rating Scale (BPRS), Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S), and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I). The side effects were evaluated using Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale (BARS) and Simpson-Angus Scale (SAS) at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks after the amisulpride augmentation.
Results:Among the 29 patients, 28 completed the study. At week 12, the mean BPRS score (p<0.001) and CGI-S score (p=0.002) showed significant improvement compared to the baseline. There was no increase in extrapyramidal symptoms according to SAS (p=0.090) and BARS (p=0.137) after the amisulpride augmentation.
Conclusion:This study demonstrated the efficacy and safety of amisulpride augmentation in schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder patients partially responsive to antipsychotics. Further studies investigating the efficacy of amisulpride augmentation therapy using placebo control are necessary to confirm the results.
