Negative Symptoms and New Atypical Antipsychotics

Overview

Importance and classification of negative symptoms and their control by treatment are summari-zed. The efficacy of atypical antipsychotics on primary negative symptoms is not clear. Recently,more strict criteria for studies concerning efficacy of antipsychotics on negative symptoms arerequired. These more strict criteria were met in studies with two atypical antipsychotics, whichwere launched in the Czech Republic recently, i.e. amisulpiride (Solian) and ziprasidone (Zeldox).Double-blind, placebo controlled studies focused on efficacy in negative symptoms are describedin more detail. In both studies the active substances were significantly better than placebo.Whether the positive results on negative symptoms will be sufficient for the reintegration ofpatients with schizophrenia into society will be apparent in the future.

Key words:
schizophrenia, negative symptoms, atypical antipsychotics, amisulpride, ziprasidone.