Open Access

Current perspectives in treating negative symptoms of schizophrenia: A narrative review (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Octavia O. Căpățînă
    • Ioana V. Micluția
    • Mihaela Fadgyas-Stănculete
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: January 25, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.9707
  • Article Number: 276
  • Copyright: © Căpățînă et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

The negative symptoms of schizophrenia are an unmet treatment target as currently approved treatments mostly control positive symptoms. The persistence of these symptoms holds back the patient's reinstatement in society, making them incapable of fulfilling their social, professional, or family roles. There is overwhelming research evidence suggesting that the negative symptoms of schizophrenia are associated with poorer functioning and lower quality of life than positive symptoms, confirming the need for developing new treatments for this particular category of symptoms. This present review aims to review clinical trials addressing novel pharmacological approaches addressing primary negative symptoms of schizophrenia. We overview both monotherapies, first‑generation and second‑generation antipsychotics, and add‑on therapies, including psychostimulants, anti‑inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, molecules targeting glutamatergic, cholinergic or serotonergic systems and hormones. Our findings suggest that the primary negative symptoms of schizophrenia may be mitigated by adjunctive therapies, and we highlight the pharmacological agents that have proven superior efficacy. Novel compounds such as cariprazine and MIN‑101, to date, show promising results, but large clinical trials are needed to test their efficacy and safety.
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March-2021
Volume 21 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Căpățînă OO, Micluția IV and Fadgyas-Stănculete M: Current perspectives in treating negative symptoms of schizophrenia: A narrative review (Review). Exp Ther Med 21: 276, 2021
APA
Căpățînă, O.O., Micluția, I.V., & Fadgyas-Stănculete, M. (2021). Current perspectives in treating negative symptoms of schizophrenia: A narrative review (Review). Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 21, 276. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.9707
MLA
Căpățînă, O. O., Micluția, I. V., Fadgyas-Stănculete, M."Current perspectives in treating negative symptoms of schizophrenia: A narrative review (Review)". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 21.3 (2021): 276.
Chicago
Căpățînă, O. O., Micluția, I. V., Fadgyas-Stănculete, M."Current perspectives in treating negative symptoms of schizophrenia: A narrative review (Review)". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 21, no. 3 (2021): 276. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.9707