Schizoaffective Disorder, Schizophrenia
Conditions
Keywords
schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, negative symptoms, cognitive impairments
Brief summary
This study will determine the effectiveness of treatment with glycine or d-cycloserine in addition to a normal antipsychotic regimen in improving negative symptoms and cognitive impairments in patients with schizophrenia.
Detailed description
A double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial to examine whether adjunctive treatment with glycine or d-cycloserine, compared to placebo, will improve negative symptoms and cognitive impairments in patients with schizophrenia who remain on their normal antipsychotic regimen. Multicenter, randomized, double-blinded placebo controlled parallel-groups clinical trial designed to test the hypothesis that interventions (glycine or d-cycloserine) intended to increase glutamatergic activity by action at the NMDA receptor will reduce persistant negative symptoms and cognitive impairments of patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. After an initial screening phase to establish clinical stability and eligibility, patients were assigned to one of three adjunctive treatments (placebo, d-cycloserine or glycine)for 16 weeks of double-blind treatment. Patients remained on a stable dose of antipsychotic therapy (other than clozapine) throughout the study.
Interventions
DRUGd-cycloserine
DRUGglycine
DRUGplacebo
Sponsors
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
The Zucker Hillside Hospital
Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research
University of California, Los Angeles
Sarah Herzog Hospital
University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, Baltimore
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 54 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder * stable, enduring negative symptoms above a certain level (SANS \>19) * clinically stable, with psychotic symptoms measured on BPRS below 19, anxiety/depression on BPRS below 15 * extrapyramidal symptoms measured on SAS below 9 * on stable antipsychotic regimen (not including clozapine)
Exclusion criteria
* alcohol or substance dependence within last six months * alcohol or substance abuse within last month * organic brain disorder * medical condition whose pathology or treatment could alter the presentation or treatment of schizophrenia, including active tuberculosis or tuberculosis treatment, kidney stones, and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus * Female participants could not be pregnant and were required to be using a documented method of contraception.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| changes from baseline in negative symptoms measured on SANS at 4,8,12 and 16 weeks. | — |
| change from baseline on neurocognitive battery measured at 16 weeks. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| change in psychotic and depressive symptoms measured at 4,8,12, and 16 weeks. | — |
| changes in extrapyramidal side effects at 4,8,12 and 16 weeks. | — |
Countries
Israel, United States
Outcome results
None listed