ADJUNCTIVE FLUOXETINE IN THE TREATMENT OF NEGATIVE SYMPTOMS IN CHRONIC-SCHIZOPHRENIC PATIENTS

The effect of adjunctive fluoxetine on negative schizophrenic symptoms was evaluated in 34 chronic schizophrenic in-patients on maintenance therapy with neuroleptics. They received randomly, on a double-blind b asis, fluoxetine (20 mg/day) or placebo for 12 weeks. In the fluoxetin e group, three patients dropped out because of side effects. Negative symptoms, as measured by change on the Scale for Assessment of Negativ e Symptoms at the end point compared to baseline values, were signific antly improved in fluoxetine-treated patients (p < 0.001), but not in the placebo group. Fluoxetine treatment did not influence positive sch izophrenic symptoms, while it induced a slight, but statistically sign ificant, decrease (p < 0.05) in depressive symptoms, as measured by th e Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Unwanted effects were more com mon among patients receiving fluoxetine. These data suggest that the a ddition of fluoxetine to neuroleptic treatment may be beneficial in so me schizophrenic patients with negative symptoms.