In a recent systematic rapid review published in Biomedicines, researchers aimed to provide clinicians with a comprehensive summary of current literature on effective treatments for negative symptoms (NS) commonly seen in schizophrenia. NS encompass deficits in speech, affect, motivation, and sociality and are prevalent in 50-90% of schizophrenia cases. The review focused on assessing the efficacy of serotonin and dopamine activity modulators (SDAMs), including aripiprazole, brexpiprazole, cariprazine, and lumateperone, in treating NS.

After analyzing available literature, Brasso and colleagues identified 34 studies for their analysis, comprising four mega-analyses, four meta-analyses, four systematic reviews and meta-analyses, one post hoc analysis of cohort studies, one post hoc analysis of RCT, and 20 clinical trials. Their findings revealed that aripiprazole, cariprazine, and brexpiprazole demonstrated effectiveness in reducing NS compared to placebo, while lumateperone's efficacy remained uncertain. However, the researchers encountered methodological challenges such as heterogeneous study populations and inconsistent NS assessments, complicating the interpretation of results.

Given these challenges, the authors advocate for more robust studies with standardized NS assessments and comprehensive analyses. Despite these limitations, this study serves as a valuable resource for clinicians seeking a synopsis of current literature and treatment approaches for schizophrenia.

Reference:

Brasso C et al. Biomedicines 2023; 11:921. Abstract