Cariprazine augmentation for negative symptoms of schizophrenia: a prospective analysis and literature review

Cariprazine is effective in a number of conditions and has shown efficacy in the treatment of negative symptoms. Data on its use as an adjunct to other antipsychotics is growing. To evaluate the effectiveness of add-on cariprazine in patients with predominant negative symptoms, we assessed a series of patients prescribed adjunctive cariprazine using the Schedule for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS). Patients had few positive symptoms, but negative symptoms were considered to have a major effect on functioning. SANS scores were calculated at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks. We compared median scores using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Ten consecutive patients were evaluated. Median baseline SANS score was 87 (IQR 32), 66 (IQR 23) at week 12 (p = 0.002 vs baseline) and 57 (IQR 33) at week 24 (p = 0.006 vs baseline). At Week 12, 70% of the patients were still prescribed the initial starting dose of 1.5 mg daily, and at Week 24, 30% of the patients remained on the 1.5 mg/day dose. Adjunctive cariprazine was effective in the treatment of residual negative symptoms in people with minimal positive symptoms.