Antidepressants for people with both schizophrenia and depression

Abstract

Background Depressive symptoms, o en of substantial severity, are found in 50% of newly diagnosed su ers of schizophrenia and 33% of people with chronic schizophrenia who have relapsed. Depression is associated with dysphoria, disability, reduction of motivation to accomplish tasks and the activities of daily living, an increased duration of illness and more frequent relapses. Objectives To determine the clinical e ects of antidepressant medication for the treatment of depression in people who also su er with schizophrenia.

Efficacy and safety of antidepressant augmentation of continued antipsychotic treatment in patients with schizophrenia

“… reported a significant effect of antidepressant augmentation for depressive symptoms. However, our findings are consistent with results from another meta‐analysis focusing on patients with comorbid depression that also could not provide convincing evidence for antidepressant augmentation for depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia (results were only significant when using a fixed effects model and when including ≥50% of studies with skewed data , allowing for one single study using observed case analyses to drive the results). Importantly, our finding of non‐superiority was not moderated by baseline depression severity.…”

Efficacy and safety of antidepressant augmentation of continued antipsychotic treatment in patients with schizophrenia

“… reported a significant effect of antidepressant augmentation for depressive symptoms. However, our findings are consistent with results from another meta‐analysis focusing on patients with comorbid depression that also could not provide convincing evidence for antidepressant augmentation for depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia (results were only significant when using a fixed effects model and when including ≥50% of studies with skewed data , allowing for one single study using observed case analyses to drive the results). Importantly, our finding of non‐superiority was not moderated by baseline depression severity.…”

Suicide Risk in Schizophrenia - a follow-up study after 20 years. Part 2: Symptomatology and pharmacotherapy

“…27 Consistent with literature on the subject, antidepressants were not found to consistently reduce depressive symptoms 25 or hopelessness, and did not decrease suicide risk. Current protocol suggests that antidepressants should only be prescribed for patients with schizophrenia whose depressive symptoms do not respond to an atypical antipsychotic.…”

Augmentation with antidepressants in schizophrenia treatment: benefit or risk

“……”

Efficacy and safety of antidepressant augmentation of continued antipsychotic treatment in patients with schizophrenia

“… reported a significant effect of antidepressant augmentation for depressive symptoms. However, our findings are consistent with results from another meta‐analysis focusing on patients with comorbid depression that also could not provide convincing evidence for antidepressant augmentation for depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia (results were only significant when using a fixed effects model and when including ≥50% of studies with skewed data , allowing for one single study using observed case analyses to drive the results). Importantly, our finding of non‐superiority was not moderated by baseline depression severity.…”

Suicide Risk in Schizophrenia - a follow-up study after 20 years. Part 2: Symptomatology and pharmacotherapy

“…27 Consistent with literature on the subject, antidepressants were not found to consistently reduce depressive symptoms 25 or hopelessness, and did not decrease suicide risk. Current protocol suggests that antidepressants should only be prescribed for patients with schizophrenia whose depressive symptoms do not respond to an atypical antipsychotic.…”

Augmentation with antidepressants in schizophrenia treatment: benefit or risk

“……”

Efficacy and safety of antidepressant augmentation of continued antipsychotic treatment in patients with schizophrenia

“… reported a significant effect of antidepressant augmentation for depressive symptoms. However, our findings are consistent with results from another meta‐analysis focusing on patients with comorbid depression that also could not provide convincing evidence for antidepressant augmentation for depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia (results were only significant when using a fixed effects model and when including ≥50% of studies with skewed data , allowing for one single study using observed case analyses to drive the results). Importantly, our finding of non‐superiority was not moderated by baseline depression severity.…”

Suicide Risk in Schizophrenia - a follow-up study after 20 years. Part 2: Symptomatology and pharmacotherapy

“…27 Consistent with literature on the subject, antidepressants were not found to consistently reduce depressive symptoms 25 or hopelessness, and did not decrease suicide risk. Current protocol suggests that antidepressants should only be prescribed for patients with schizophrenia whose depressive symptoms do not respond to an atypical antipsychotic.…”

Augmentation with antidepressants in schizophrenia treatment: benefit or risk

“……”