The Efficacy of Atypical Antipsychotics in the Treatment of Depressive Symptoms, Hostility, and Suicidality in Patients With Schizophrenia

Depressive symptoms and syndromal depression commonly occur in patients with schizophrenia.Schizophrenia is also associated with aggression directed at self and others. For this article, the availableliterature regarding the efficacy of clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, and ziprasidonein the treatment of depression, hostility, and suicidality in patients with schizophrenia was reviewed.These studies suggest that atypical antipsychotics may exert therapeutic effects on depressionand hostility as well as psychosis and that clozapine and olanzapine may reduce suicidality in patientswith schizophrenia. These therapeutic actions appear to represent additional advantages of atypicalantipsychotics compared with standard agents.