|
The Cochrane Collaboration
Cochrane Reviews |
| Explore | New + Updated | Other languages |
|
 |
Beta-blocker supplementation of standard drug treatment for schizophreniaCheine MV, Ahonen J, Wahlbeck K
Bookmark this:
     more ...
SummaryBeta-blocker supplementation of standard drug treatment for schizophreniaThe beta-blockers are a group of drugs that have been used as an addition to 'standard' antipsychotic drugs to treat people with schizophrenia. At present there is very limited good evidence to support this practice.
This is a Cochrane review abstract and plain language summary, prepared and maintained by The Cochrane Collaboration, currently published in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009 Issue 4, Copyright © 2009 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.. The full text of the review is available in The Cochrane Library (ISSN 1464-780X).
This version first published online:
October 20. 1997 AbstractBackgroundMany people with schizophrenia or similar severe mental disorders do not achieve a satisfactory treatment response with ordinary antipsychotic drug treatment. In these cases, various add-on medications are used, among them beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists (beta-blockers). ObjectivesTo evaluate the clinical effects of beta-blockers as an adjunct to antipsychotic medication in schizophrenia or similar severe mental disorders. Search strategyPublications in all languages were searched from the following databases: Biological Abstracts (1982-2000), The Cochrane Library (Issue 3, 2000), The Cochrane Schizophrenia Group's Register (November 2000), EMBASE (1980-2000), LILACS (1982-1996), MEDLINE (1966-2000) and PsycLIT (1974-2000). Reference sections of included papers were screened. Selection criteriaAll randomised controlled trials comparing beta-blockers with placebo as an adjunct to conventional antipsychotic medication for those with schizophrenia. Data collection and analysisStudies were selected and then data extracted, independently, by at least two reviewers. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of homogeneous dichotomous data were calculated using the Peto method. A random effects model was used for heterogeneous dichotomous data. Weighted mean differences were calculated for continuous data. Main resultsCurrently the review includes five studies but data are poorly presented and there is no evidence of any effect of beta-blockers as an adjunct to conventional antipsychotic medication. Authors' conclusionsAt present beta-blockers cannot be recommended in the treatment of schizophrenia. Any possible benefit of adjunctive beta-blockers is obscured by poor reporting within included studies. Existing data on beta-blockers as adjunctive medication to antipsychotics for those with schizophrenia should be collected and re-analysed in order to allow confident conclusions about the effect of this treatment or the need for further trials. |