The effect of amisulpride on prolactin level and clinical efficacy in first-episode schizophrenic patients

Objective To discuss the effect of amisulpride on the prolactin level in serum of first-episode schizophrenic patients and its relationship with symptoms. Methods 45 patients who met the DSM-IV schizophrenia diagnostic criteria and 45 age- and gender- matched healthy controls were assessed the clinical symptoms using positive and negative syndrome scale(PANSS) and prolactin level in serum was detected using enzymelinked immunosorbent assay. Student's t test was used to compare the prolactin level before and after amisulpride treatment and correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationship between prolactin level in serum and symptoms with P<0.05 were considered significantly different. Results There was significant increase in prolactin level in serum after amisulpride treatment in first-episode schizophrenic patients((12.52±8.85) ng/ml, (52.60±22.93 ng/ml, t=12.165, P<0.001). There was a positive correlation between prolactin level in serum and reduction rate of negative symptoms(r=0.24, P<0.05). Conclusion Amisulpride can increase prolactin level in serum; and the rise of serum prolactin is closely related to the improvement of negative symptoms. Key words: Amisulpride; Schizophrenia; Prolactin; Case control study