Fluvoxamine augmentation of antipsychotics improves negative symptoms in psychotic chronic schizophrenic patients: a placebo-controlled study

The efficacy and safety of adding fluvoxamine to antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenic patients with mixed positive and negative symptoms was exami ned. Fifty-three patients selected for persistent negative and positive sym ptoms who were receiving antipsychotic treatment were randomly allocated to additional fluvoxamine (50-100 mg/day) or placebo in a double-blind manner . Fluvoxamine was associated with significant improvement in negative sympt oms (Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms) compared to placebo. Th e combination was well tolerated. Fluvoxamine augmentation of antipsychotic s is safe in chronic schizophrenic patients with mixed positive and negativ e symptoms and may ameliorate negative symptoms in such patients. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.