[Therapeutic effect of shuxuening combining neuroleptics for the treatment of chronic schizophrenia--a double blind study]

Abstract

Objective: To assess the therapeutic effect of Shuxuening (SXN), the extractum of Ginkgo biloba761 (EGb761) in treating chronic schizophrenia.

Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled multi-center research on the treatment of chronic schizophrenics with SXN was used. Five hundred and forty-five patients were randomly divided into either SXN group or the control group. Patients in the former group received SXN 120 mg three times daily. Patients in both groups received their maintenance neuroleptics throughout the 16-week research treatment.

Results: The patients' rating scores of brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS) and Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms reduced much greater in SXN group than those in the control group from the sixth week of treatment (P < 0.01). The effect of SXN for BPRS factors of retardation and thought disturbance was better than that of the control. SXN presented a better therapeutic effect for chronic schizophrenics than the control when rated with traditional global rating method as well, in which 44.98% marked improvement was obtained in SXN group compared to 20.98% in the control group.

Conclusion: SXN combining neuroleptics, was an effective medicine for chronic schizophrenics. Moreover, it appeared few side-effects within the recommended dose range.