ABSTRACT
Objective To examine the efficacy, safety, economic benefits and social function of conventional antipsychotics combined with agomelatine in the treatment of schizophrenia patients with obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Methods Eighty schizophrenic patients with obsessive-compulsive symptoms were randomly divided into two groups. The study group was treated with conventional antipsychotic drugs combined with agomelatin, and the control group combined with clomipramine for 8 weeks. Positive and negative symptom scale (PANSS) and Yale-Brown obsessive-compulsion scale (Y-BCOS) were used to evaluate the symptoms at before treatment, at discharge and one month after discharge. Social disability screening scale (SDSS), treatment emergent symptom scale (TESS) and the economic benefits was used to evaluate the social function, treatment efficacy and economic status. Results Before treatment, there was no significant difference in the scores of each scale between the two groups (P＞0.05). There was no significant difference in PANSS scores between the two groups at all time points (P＞0.05). The difference between Y-BCOS score and pre-treatment value was higher in the study group than in the control group (P<0.05). The difference between SDSS score and pre-treatment value was higher in the study group than in the control group (P<0.05). The TMRs were lower in the study group than in the control group at one month after discharge (P<0.05). The TESS score was lower in the study group than in the control group at discharge and one month after discharge. The cost and income were higher and the cost-effect ratio was lower in the study group than in the control group at one month after discharge (P<0.05). PANSS and Y-BCOS were positively correlated with TMR, SDSS and CER (P<0.05), but not with TESS at one month after discharge (P＞0.05). TESS was positively correlated with TMR, SDSS and CER (P<0.05). Conclusion The treatment of conventional antipsychotics combined with agomelatine in schizophrenia patients with obsessive-compulsive symptoms are safe and effective. Patients can achieve better social function, good economic and social benefits.