Effect of paroxetine combined with aripiprazole on serum neurotransmitter content and sympathetic skin response in elderly patients with somatization disorder

Zhang Enxu; Zhang Fang; Sun Liang

doi:10.3760/j.issn.1673-4777.2018.11.020

Abstract：Objective To analyze the effect of paroxetine combined with aripiprazole on serum neurotransmitter content and sympathetic skin response in elderly patients with somatization disorder.Methods A total of 112 elderly patients with somatization disorder admitted to Mental Health Center of Anshan from July 2016 to June 2017 were randomly divided into observation group and control group,with 56 cases in each group.The control group took paroxetine;the observation group took paroxetine and aripiprazole.Clinical efficacy,serum neurotransmitter,sympathetic skin response and adverse reactions were analyzed 8 weeks after treatment.Results The total effective rate in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group[89.3％ (50/56) vs 73.2％ (41/56)] (P =0.018).After treatment,serum contents of dopamine,5-hydroxyindole acetic acid and norepinephrine increased in both groups;the levels in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group[(73 ±9) ng/L vs (56 ±7)ng/L,(2 355 ±423)ng/L vs (1 935 ±336)ng/L,(41 ±5)ng/L vs (35 ±5)ng/L] (all P ＜ 0.05).Upper and lower limbs' sympathetic skin response latent periods shortened and amplitudes increased after treatment;latent periods and amplitudes in the observation group were significantly shorter/larger than those in the control group[(1.32 ± 0.25) s vs (1.51 ± 0.34) s,(1.68 ± 0.32) s vs (1.84 ±0.41)s;(2.12 ±0.35)mY vs (1.72 ±0.40)mY,(1.84 ±0.26) mV vs (1.58 ±0.34)mV] (all P＜0.05).Incidence of adverse reactions was similar between the two groups (P =0.074).Conclusion Paroxetine combined with aripiprazole has a good therapeutic effect on somatization disorder in elderly patients;the clinical efficacy may be related to the regulation on serum neurotransmitter and sympathetic skin response.