IMPROVEMENT OF SOME SCHIZOPHRENIC DEFICIT SYMPTOMS WITH LOW-DOSES OF AMISULPRIDE

Objective: The authors assessed the effects on primary negative sympto ms of low doses of amisulpride, a substituted benzamide neuroleptic wi th high affinity for D-2 and D-3 dopamine receptors. Method: Young, dr ug-free schizophrenic patients with pure negative symptoms participate d in a 6-week double-blind trial of placebo (N=10) or low-dose amisulp ride (N=10). They were assessed with the Scale for the Assessment of N egative Symptoms. Results: Amisulpride significantly improved negative symptoms. Improvement in avolition, attentional impairment, and retar dation was significantly greater with amisulpride than with placebo. C onclusions: These findings suggest that some primary negative symptoms may be directly affected by low doses of benzamide neuroleptics.