Efficacy and Safety of Asenapine Compared With Olanzapine in Patients With Persistent Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia (A7501013)(COMPLETED)(P05771)

Efficacy and Safety of Asenapine Compared With Olanzapine in Patients With Persistent Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia (A7501013)(COMPLETED)(P05771)

A Multicenter, Double-Blind, Flexible -Dose, 6-Month Trial Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of Asenapine With Olanzapine in Stable Subjects With Predominant, Persistent Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia.

Treatment with conventional antipsychotics such as haloperidol has little effect or may sometimes even worsen negative symptoms (such as blunted affect, emotional withdrawal, and poor rapport) of schizophrenia. The newer "atypical" antipsychotics agents, such as olanzapine, has shown improvement in the treatment of negative symptoms in acute trials. The purpose of this study is to compare an investigational compound (asenapine) with a marketed agent (olanzapine) in the treatment of stable subjects with persistent negative symptoms of schizophrenia for 6 months. Patients completing this study may be eligible to participate in an extension 6 months of treatment. Patients are required to have stable symptoms prior to entry into study.

Change From Baseline in Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia Measured by the Negative Symptom Assessment (NSA) Scale Total Score

The NSA Scale is a 16-item clinician-rated instrument for rating the negative symptomatology of schizophrenia. Total score ranges from 16 to 96, with greater scores indicating greater severity of symptoms.

The Quality of Life Scale is a 21-item clinician-rated scale for rating psychosocial functioning (Interpersonal Relations, Instrumental Role, Intrapsychic Foundations, and Common Objects and Activities). The score ranges from 0 to 126, with greater values indicating better quality of life.

Inclusion Criteria: Have a documented current diagnosis of schizophrenia of paranoid, disorganized, catatonic, residual, or undifferentiated subtype with persistent negative symptoms. No increase in level of psychiatric care during the past few months due to worsening of symptoms of schizophrenia. Caregiver required. Exclusion Criteria: Have an uncontrolled, unstable clinically significant medical condition. Have any other psychiatric disorder other than schizophrenia as a primary diagnosis including depression.

Buchanan RW, Panagides J, Zhao J, Phiri P, den Hollander W, Ha X, Kouassi A, Alphs L, Schooler N, Szegedi A, Cazorla P. Asenapine versus olanzapine in people with persistent negative symptoms of schizophrenia. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2012 Feb;32(1):36-45. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0b013e31823f880a.