Open prospective study of ziprasidone in patients with schizophrenia with depressive symptoms: A multicenter study

Aims The goal of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of ziprasidone to treat depressive symptoms in K orean patients with schizophrenia who showed stable symptoms. Methods In this 8‐week, open‐label, prospective, non‐randomized, multicenter study, 34 patients with schizophrenia who showed a stable response to previous medications, maintained a stable dose, and who had depressive symptoms, were recruited. Ziprasidone was the only antipsychotic agent allowed for 8 weeks after a 2–7‐week washout period. Results Steady decreases were observed on the M ontgomery– A sberg D epression R ating S cale, the C algary D epression S cale for S chizophrenia, the P ositive and N egative S yndrome S cale, and the C linical G lobal I mpression‐ S everity S cale scores. The M ontgomery– A sberg D epression R ating S cale score was 20.26 ± 4.77 at baseline and 12.21 ± 7.94 at the end‐point ( P  < 0.01). The C algary D epression S cale for S chizophrenia score was 9.76 ± 4.11 at baseline and 5.00 ± 3.94 at the end‐point ( P  < 0.01). The P ositive and N egative S yndrome S cale total score was 75.24 ± 22.63 at baseline and 66.53 ± 24.28 at the end‐point ( P  < 0.01). The C linical G lobal I mpression‐ S everity S cale score was 3.44 ± 0.66 at baseline and 3.15 ± 0.86 at the end‐point ( P  < 0.05). No significant differences were observed for total scores on the S impson and A ngus R ating S cale, the B arnes A kathisia R ating S cale, or the A bnormal I nvoluntary M ovement S cale between the baseline and end‐point. Conclusions Ziprasidone was effective for improving depressive symptom scores and was well tolerated. Switching to ziprasidone is a good strategy in patients with schizophrenia who are experiencing depressive symptoms.