EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF THE THIRD-GENERATION ATYPICAL ANTIPSYCHOTIC LURAZIDONE IN THE TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Abstract

Background. Depressive symptoms are observed in 25 % of patients with schizophrenia. However, in a real5world practice these symptoms are frequently not considered to be a clinical target of a separate pharmacological intervention, though undoubtedly require special attention. Thus, atypical antipsychotics endowed with additional antidepressant effectiveness should be the treatment of choice. Materials and methods. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lurasidone 20580 mg per day given for 6 weeks in 54 female patients (18 to 56 years) with schizophrenia remission and clinical depression (HDRS score of 17 or more) (ICD510: F20.01 + F32.152; F20.04; F21.354 + F32.152). The HDRS521, CGI, and UKU scales were used for psychometric evaluation. Results. The proportion of responders with 50 % decrease on the HDRS521 scores was 68,5 %, and 70.7 % were qualified as “much improved” and “very much improved” according to the CGI scale. It was also shown, that antiapathic activity prevails in the spectrum of antidepressive effect of lurasidone with the significant decrease in the correspondent cluster of symptoms from 2 to 0,5 points by the week 6. Conclusion: It was found that lurasidone has a pronounced antidepressant effect and is also characterized by a favorable tolerability profile. The spectrum of antidepressant activity of lurasidone is characterized by a pronounced effect on apathy, adynamia, asthenia and anhedonia. KEY WORDS: lurasidone, schizophrenia, depression, anhedonia, apathy