Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Most Second-Generation Antipsychotics Effective for Treatment of Negative Schizophrenia Symptoms: Presented at EPA

Amisulpride and ziprasidone show better overall effects in comparison with other second-generation antipsychotics in the of negative symptoms of schizophrenia, according to results of 2 meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials.

Principal investigator Javier Rejas, MD, PhD, Medical Unit, Health Outcomes Research, Pfizer EspaƱa, Madrid, Spain, presented these results on January 27 here at the 17th European Congress of Psychiatry, organised by the European Psychiatric Association (EPA).

While research has demonstrated the efficacy of numerous first-generation antipsychotics, such as haloperidol, for treatment of positive symptoms of schizophrenia, negative symptoms are difficult to treat and can result in severe impairment and poor quality of life, said Dr. Rejas.

His research team therefore conducted 2 meta-analyses to compare the efficacy of second-generation antipsychotics versus haloperidol and versus placebo in the treatment of negative schizophrenia symptoms.

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