Quetiapine is effective against anxiety and depressive symptoms in long-term treatment of patients with schizophrenia.

This analysis of data from the open-label extension (OLE) phases of three randomized clinical trials of quetiapine in patients with schizophrenia (n=415) was undertaken to investigate whether the initial improvements in anxiety and depressive symptoms were maintained during long-term treatment. The mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) change from the acute phase baseline in the Factor I score of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), which includes somatic concern, anxiety, guilt feelings, and depression, was calculated at the OLE baseline and at various time points up to 156 weeks. After 6 weeks of treatment with quetiapine during the acute phase, the mean (95% CI) change in the BPRS Factor I score was -1.13 (-1.23, -1.04) and after 156 weeks, it was -1.33 (-1.78, -0.87). Therefore, the efficacy of quetiapine for the treatment of anxiety and depressive symptoms is maintained in long-term treatment.