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

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 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. Sertraline did not improve social withdrawal‚ emotional withdrawal‚ blunted affect and other negative symptoms in schizophrenia patients compared with placebo. Adding sertraline on typical antipsychotic treatment does not seem to improve negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia disorder.