Citation

Hanci N, Çetin Eker, Miraloğlu, Argun Uslu M, Özkaya G, Eker SS. Noro Psikiyatr Ars 2015; 52(1): 64-68.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Turk Noro-Psikiyatri Derneginin Yayin Organidir)

DOI

10.5152/npa.2015.7041

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Comorbid depression in schizophrenia is associated with poor outcome, increased risk of relapse and a high rate of suicide. Identification of depressive symptoms and their appropriate treatment is crucial for depressed schizophrenic patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the rates of antidepressant prescription and their outcomes.

METHODS: The records of the schizophrenic outpatients, who were consulted at Psychosis Unit of Psychiatry Department between January 2007 and September 2012, were evaluated retrospectively. Enrolled schizophrenic patients' antidepressant medications were at their minimal effective doses and effective duration.

RESULTS: The present study demonstrates that 39 of the 101 patients during their follow-ups were prescribed antidepressants. The mean follow-up period was 6.3 (±4.2) years; the mean age at onset was 22 (±6.5) years; the mean duration of illness was 14.7 (±7.3) years and the mean number of psychotic exacerbation was 5 (±3.7). The most prescribed antidepressants were; sertraline (36.9%), venlefaxine (23.8%) and essitalopram (20.2%). SSRI's were prescribed 57 (73.1%), where as SNRI's 21 times (26.9%). There was no significant difference between SSRI (78.6%) and SNRI (21.4%) treatments in terms of psychotic exacerbation under antidepressant medication. Full remission of depressive symptoms was achieved in 21 patients (53.8%). Remission rates were significantly higher (p<0.01) in SNRI treated depressed schizophrenic patients (85.7%) compared to SSRI treated patients (50.9%). In 8 of the 39 patients (20.5%) antidepressant treatment was terminated due to side effects.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that SSRI's were more often prescribed compared to other classes of antidepressants in emerging depressive symptoms in schizophrenic patients despite full remission with SNRI's is more common. There was no significant difference between SSRI and SNRI treatment in terms of psychotic exacerbation. © 2015 by Turkish Association of Neuropsychiatry.

Language: tr

Keywords

adult; human; Depression; Schizophrenia; depression; schizophrenia; treatment outcome; Antidepressant; major clinical study; prescription; antidepressant agent; clinical feature; serotonin uptake inhibitor; sertraline; venlafaxine; follow up; drug withdrawal; disease exacerbation; escitalopram; remission; disease duration; unspecified side effect; Article; serotonin noradrenalin reuptake inhibitor