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Mirtazapine add-on therapy in the treatment of schizophrenia with atypical antipsychotics: A double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial

Version 2 2024-05-30, 15:37
Version 1 2014-10-28, 09:21
journal contribution
posted on 2024-05-30, 15:37 authored by Michael BerkMichael Berk, CS Gama, S Sundram, H Hustig, L Koopowitz, R D'Souza, H Malloy, C Rowland, A Monkhouse, F Bole, S Sathiyamoorthy, D Piskulic, Seetal DoddSeetal Dodd
AbstractObjectiveSchizophrenia is a multifaceted illness with positive, negative and cognitive symptom domains. Standard treatments often focus on positive symptoms and may not adequately relieve other symptoms. Previous studies have suggested a role for mirtazapine in schizophrenia, particularly in negative symptoms. This study investigates the efficacy of adding mirtazapine to treatment as usual to alleviate the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.MethodsIn a 6 week, double‐blind clinical trial, participants with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and currently being treated with atypical antipsychotic medication were randomised to adjunctive treatment with mirtazapine (30 mg/day) or placebo. The primary outcome measure was improvement in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Measures of cognition, collected at baseline and week 6 only, were analysed using an Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) model. All other outcome measures were analysed using a linear mixed model.ResultsForty participants were recruited to the study with equal numbers randomised to each treatment arm. There was no significant difference between mirtazapine and placebo treated participants for improvement in PANSS scores or any of the secondary outcome measures at any stage during the 6‐week trial.ConclusionsThis trial does not confirm previous research supporting the use of mirtazapine adjunctive to atypical antipsychotic treatment for schizophrenia. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

History

Journal

Human Psychopharmacology

Volume

24

Pagination

233-238

Location

England

ISSN

0885-6222

eISSN

1099-1077

Language

English

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2009, John Wiley & Sons

Issue

3

Publisher

WILEY