Adjunctive Treatment for Decreasing Symptoms of Schizophrenia

University of Maryland, Baltimore240 enrolled

Overview

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.

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.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

240

Conditions

Schizophrenia Schizoaffective Disorder

Interventions

d-cycloserineDRUG

glycineDRUG

placeboDRUG

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 54 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

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.

Locations (5)

UCLA/VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System

Los Angeles, California, United States

Maryland Psychiatric Research Center

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Zucker Hillside Hospital

Glen Oaks, New York, United States

Nathan S Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research

Orangeburg, New York, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

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 Outcomes

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.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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