Evaluation of Typical Antipsychotic Augmentation with Sertraline in Reduction of Negative Symptoms in Patients with Schizophrenia in Ahvaz Golestan Hospital

Background and Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of sertraline added to typical antipsychotics for the treatment of negative symptoms of patients with schizophrenia disorder. Subjects and Methods: This study is a randomized double blind clinical trial. Thirty patients suffering from schizophrenia disorder (DSM-IV-TR) were selected randomly and devided into two groups. Depression was ruled out by Hamilton Depression Questionnaire. A group was given sertraline (50 mg/day) and the other group received placebo . The efficacy of sertraline and placebo in reduction of social withdrawal‚ emotional withdrawal‚ blunted affect and other negative symptoms was assessed weekly with PANSS scale during 6 weeks. Results: Sertraline did not improve social withdrawal‚ emotional withdrawal‚ blunted affect and other negative symptoms in schizophrenia patients compared with placebo. Conclusion: Adding sertraline on typical antipsychotic treatment does not seem to improve negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia disorder. ►Please cite this paper as: Raz S‚ Gaffari SM ‚ Fakhri A‚Haghdoost MR‚ Ashrafi S. Evaluation of Typical Antipsychotic Augmentation with Sertraline in Reduction of Negative Symptoms in Patients with Schizophrenia in Ahvaz Golestan Hospital. Jundishapur Sci Med J 2014;13(3):335-345