A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of traditional Chinese medicine
sarsasapogenin added to risperidone in patients with negative symptoms dominated
schizophrenia.
Author(s): Xiao SF, Xue HB, Li X, Chen C, Li GJ, Yuan CM, Zhang MY.
Affiliation(s): Geriatric Psychiatry Department, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiaotong
University School of Medicine, China. xiaoshifu@msn.com
Publication date & source: 2011, Neurosci Bull. , 27(4):258-68
OBJECTIVE To identify whether sarsasapogenin, a sapogenin from the Chinese
medicinal herb Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Bunge, would augment the efficacy of
risperidone and significantly improve cognitive functions in patients with
negative symptoms dominated schizophrenia. METHODS The trial was a double-blind,
placebo-controlled, parallel-group design. The eligible patients were randomized
into 2 treatment groups: sarsasapogenin group (sarsasapogenin plus risperidone
for 8 weeks, n = 41) and placebo group (risperidone only for 8 weeks, n = 39). At
the baseline, as well as at weeks 2, 4 and 8 of treatment, the therapeutic
response was measured by using scales including Positive and Negative Symptoms
Scale (PANSS), Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS), modified Chinese Wechsler Adult
Intelligence Scale (mWAIS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI) and Brief Psychiatry
Rating Scale (BPRS). The study period for each subject was 8 weeks and duration
of overall trial was 2 years. RESULTS Patients treated with sarsasapogenin plus
risperidone demonstrated no statistically significant differences in changes in
PANSS, WMS or mWAIS score at the end-point of the trial compared with patients
treated with placebo plus risperidone. The incidence of treatment-emergent
adverse events in patients treated with sarsasapogenin was not different from
that observed in placebo group. CONCLUSION Sarsasapogenin did not augment the
efficacy of risperidone in treating negative symptoms dominated schizophrenia.
Sarsasapogenin at a dosage of 200 mg per day added to a flexible dosage of
risperidone at 2-4 mg per day is safe and well tolerated by patients with
negative symptoms dominated schizophrenia.
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