A systematic review [Abstract] 1 including 2 RCTs with a total of 113 subjects. Sulpiride was compared with placebo in patients with schizophrenia and other types of schizophrenia-like psychoses. The primary outcome was clinically significant response in global state, the other trial (n=98) reported only the number of patients leaving the study early (by 3 months). The follow-up time was less than 3 months. As regards mental state, there were no clear differences between groups for either positive or negative symptoms (WMD Manchester scale negative subscore -0.30; 95% CI -1.66 to 1.06; 1 RCT, n=18; WMD Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) 2.90, 95% CI -0.14 to 5.94; 1 RCT, n=18). Few people left these studies by 3 months (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.25 to 4.00; 2 RCTs, n=113). One subscore finding found sulpiride improving social behavior (WMD -2.90, 95% CI -5.60 to -0.20; 1 RCT, n=18). There were no data for many important outcomes such as general functioning, service use or adverse effects.
Comment The quality of evidence in downgraded by study quality (unclear allocation concealment), imprecise results (limited study size for each comparison) and indirectness (differences in reported outcomes).
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