Quetiapine is effective against anxiety and depressive symptoms in long-term treatment of patients with schizophrenia

Abstract

This analysis of data from the open-label extension (OLE) phases of three randomized clinical trials of quetiapine in patients with schizophrenia (n=415) was undertaken to investigate whether the initial improvements in anxiety and depressive symptoms were maintained during long-term treatment. The mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) change from the acute phase baseline in the Factor I score of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), which includes somatic concern, anxiety, guilt feelings, and depression, was calculated at the OLE baseline and at various time points up to 156 weeks. After 6 weeks of treatment with quetiapine during the acute phase, the mean (95% CI) change in the BPRS Factor I score was -1.13 (-1.23, -1.04) and after 156 weeks, it was -1.33 (-1.78, -0.87). Therefore, the efficacy of quetiapine for the treatment of anxiety and depressive symptoms is maintained in long-term treatment.

Efficacy and safety of quetiapine for depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia

“…The mean change of depressive symptoms were 7.8 points on the HAMD-17 total score and 3.4 on the BPRS depressive/anxiety subscale scores with the effect of quetiapine evident from the first week of treatment. These findings are consistent with previous studies reporting the effect of quetiapine on depressive symptoms in patients with acute or chronic schizophrenia (Arvanitis et al, 1997;Khouzam, 2000;Emsley et al, 2003;Kasper, 2004). Emsley et al compared the efficacy of quetiapine with haloperidol for patients with a history of partial response to conventional antipsychotic, and reported that quetiapine produced a greater reduction in depression scores (PANSS depression factor) than haloperidol (À1.6 vs. À0.54) (Emsley et al, 2003).…”

“…The present study also showed similar findings where HAMD-17 scores were significantly reduced in patients with moderate to severe depression relative to mild depression (t ¼ 4.73, df ¼ 28, p < 0.001). Analysis of data from the open-label extension phases of three randomized clinical trials showed that the mean change in BPRS depression/ anxiety subscale score was À1.13 and À1.33 for acute and long-term phases, respectively (Kasper, 2004). The differences of improvement among studies might be due to the differences in population characteristics (gender, depression severity, and disease stage) or treatment characteristics (dosage differences, dosing schedule).…”

“…In a study of partial responders to conventional antipsychotic agents, the switch to quetiapine produced a significant reduction in the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) depression factor which was interpreted to be a direct effect on depressive symptoms (Emsley et al, 2003). A recent analysis of data from the open-label extension phases of three randomized clinical trials demonstrated that quetiapine was effective for the treatment of depressive and anxiety symptoms in longterm treatment (Kasper, 2004). However, not all studies have been positive which some reporting lack of effect and even inducing depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia (Mauri et al, 2008;Mergui et al, 2005).…”

Management of acutely ill patients in the hospital setting: focus on quetiapine

“…This property may also be useful for treatment beyond the acute phase. An analysis of data from open-label extension phases of three randomised clinical trials of quetiapine in patients with schizophrenia showed that initial improvements in the symptoms of anxiety during the acute phase were maintained over the longer term (156 weeks) [69].…”

Real-world use of quetiapine in early psychosis: An acute inpatient and community follow-up effectiveness study

“…Quetiapine is a broad spectrum antipsychotic that is effective against the symptoms of schizophrenia [1], mania [2,3], and depression [4,5]. It is anxiolytic [6,7] and has antiaggression [8,9] effects. In terms of tolerability, quetiapine has very low propensity to cause extrapyramidal side-effects and hyperprolactinaemia [1], irrespective of dose [10].…”