Adjunctive Antidepressant Therapy in Schizophrenia: Is It Beneficial?

Table 2 – Summary of Efficacy Results of Individual Antidepressants¹

Medication/Class	Number of Participants	SMD [95% CI]
Depressive Symptoms
MAOIs	105	-0.40 [-0.78, -0.01], p = 0.04
Duloxetine	40	-0.80 [-1.45, -0.16], p = 0.01
Sertraline	205	-0.51 [-0.91, -0.12], p = 0.01
Amitriptyline	138	-0.34 [-0.68, 0], p = 0.05
Negative Symptoms
SSRIs	1,057	-0.25 [-0.43, -0.07], p = 0.006
TeCAs	278	-0.63 [-1.03, -0.24], p = 0.002
Selegiline	116	-0.45 [-0.85, -0.04], p = 0.03
Duloxetine	40	-1.38 [-2.07, -0.68], p = 0.0001
Citalopram	369	-0.31 [-0.52, -0.10], p = 0.003
Fluvoxamine	172	-0.47 [-0.80, -0.14], p = 0.005
Mirtazapine	210	-0.84 [-1.31, -0.36], p = 0.0006

Table 3 – Summary of Safety Results¹

Adverse Event	Number of Participants/Trials	Risk Ratio [95% CI]	Number Needed to Treat to Harm [95% CI]
Abdominal Plain	250 participants	1.82 [1.02, 3.26]	20 [12, 100]
Constipation	476 participants	1.70 [1.02, 2.86]	20 [9, 50]
Dizziness	663 participants	1.82 [1.09, 3.05]	20 [12, 100]
Dry Mouth	644 participants	1.43 [1.30, 1.96]	20 [12, 100]
Exacerbation of Psychosis	16 trials	1.03 [0.60, 1.75], p = 0.92	N/A
Dropouts (any reason)	70 trials	0.98 [0.83, 1.15], p = 0.82	N/A
AEs with no significant difference: agitation, akathisia, anxiety, appetite changes, blurred vision, chest pain, cramps, drowsiness, ejaculatory issues, flatulence, flu, headache, heartbeat changes, hypertension, insomnia, libido, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, pain, parkinsonism, pharyngitis, rash, respiratory infection, shortness of breath, tinnitus, tremor, urination, weight gain.