The purpose of this study is to gather systematic clinical data on whether aripiprazole, a partial dopamine agonist, beneficially affects schizophrenia plus cocaine dependence subjects. Since aripiprazole has established effects against schizophrenia, the study focuses on whether aripiprazole concurrently reduces co-morbid cocaine dependence in schizophrenia plus cocaine dependence sufferers compared to a standard typical antipsychotic treatment (perphenazine). The working hypothesis states that subjects in the aripiprazole treatment arm of the study will give fewer cocaine positive urine specimens as compared to the perphenazine control arm.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
44
15-30 mg
8-16 mg
Veteran's Affairs Medical Center
Denver, Colorado, United States
RECRUITINGThe proportion of negative urine drug screen results will be significantly greater in the subjects treated with aripiprazole than in those treated with perphenazine.
Time frame: Week 3 and Week 8 of study participation
The mean total self-report cocaine use days will be significantly fewer in subjects treated with aripiprazole than in those treated with perphenazine.
Time frame: End of study participation
The mean cocaine craving scores will be lower in subjects treated with aripiprazole than in those treated with perphenazine.
Time frame: End of study participation
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