Deficit Syndrome of Schizophrenia: Assuaging by Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor

Abstract

Objective: Despite advances made in treating the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, treatment of negative symptoms remains an unmet therapeutic need. Reboxetine is a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NRI). Objective of this study was to evaluate its effect on the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.Method: In a twelve-week randomized placebo-controlled trial, reboxetine was compared with placebo, as an add-on medication to haloperidol (5 mg), for treatment of 50 patients meeting diagnosis of schizophrenia. In this respect, Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms was used as the primary outcome measure. Treatment efficacy was analyzed by t test, Split-plot (Mixed) and repeated -measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Result:The primary finding of this trial was a significant reduction in mean total scores of SANS in the reboxetine group, in comparison with the placebo group, at the end of the 12 th week (P <0.0001). As well, in the experiment group, all of the sub-scales of SANS demonstrated considerable improvement. A trivial escalation in mean total scores of SAPS also was evident in the later group. Effect Size (ES) analysis too at the end of the trial, pointed to a large improvement with reboxetine. Conclusion:Reboxetine, as adjuvant to haloperidol, may cause a favorable outcome on behalf of improvement of deficit symptoms of schizophrenia.