Augmentation effect of buspirone in the treatment of treatment-refractory schizophrenia

Objective:To explore the augmentation effect and safety of buspirone in the treatment of the treatment-refractory schizophrenia.Method:All 80 patients with the treatment-refractory schizophrenia were randomly assigned to combined groups(treated with clozapine combined with buspirone) and clozapine group for 12 weeks.Each had 40 cases.The positive and negative syndrome scale(PANSS) and treatment emergent side effect scale(TESS) were used to evaluate the efficacy and adverse effect respectively.Results:After the 2,4,12 weeks treatment,the clinical efficacy in the combined group was significantly better than that in the clozapine group(all P0.05).The total and all facters scores of PANSS after the intervention were significantly lower than those before in the both groups(all P0.001).There were significant interactive effects between time and intervention in the total and positive scores of PANSS(P0.01).The decrease range of those scores in the combined group was significantly greater than that in the clozapine group after the 2 and 4 weeks treatment(P0.05).So as in the 8th except the negative score and in the 12th weekend except the negative and general scores.There was no significant difference between the both groups in the rate of adverse effect(P0.05).Conclusion:Buspirone can significantly improve the efficacy of clozapine in the treatment of the treatment-refractory schizophrenia and won't add adverse effect also.