Effects of Portulaca Oleracea L (purslane) on Psychological Symptoms of Chronic Schizophrenic Patients in Sina Hospital

Background and Despite the availability of typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs, a large number of patients with schizophrenia do not show a good response to monotherapy with these drugs. This study was done to evaluate the effect of purslane on psychological symptoms of schizophrenic patients. This randomized clinical trial was carried out in 60 chronic schizophrenic patients treated with risperidone in Sina hospital Joneghan, Iran during 2011-2012. The patients were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. The control group received risperidone 6mg/day and Biperiden 4mg/day for eight weeks. The Patients in the interventional group received 1gr extract of purslane daily with the same regimen for eight weeks. The scales for assessment of positive symptoms (SAPS), assessment of negative symptoms (SANS) and CRP level were recorded prior to and 8th week after the study. The data was then analyzed using SPSS V. 16. At the end of study, the mean score of positive symptoms were 47.93 ± 18.56 and 57.1 ± 14.83 in intervention and control groups, respectively (P<0.05), and the mean score of negative symptoms were 40.83 ± 11.03 and 46.13 ± 9.34, respectively (P<0.05). The CRP levels of patients in intervention and control groups were 0.53 ± 0.55 and 1.72 ± 0.73, respectively (P<0.05). According to findings using purslane as an adjunct to respridone can improve psychological condition of chronic schizophrenic patients and decrease their CRP levels. (Clinical Trials Registry Number: IRCT201203112085N7)