The aim of this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is to establish the clinical and cost effectiveness of an SSRI antidepressant, citalopram, in the management of persistent negative symptoms of schizophrenia over a year.
The negative symptoms of schizophrenia represent an important dimension of psychopathology, and reflect the absence or diminution of normal behaviours and functions. They include deficiencies in emotional responsiveness, drive, and emotional and social engagement. Persistent negative symptoms are held to account for much of the long-term morbidity and poor functional outcome in patients with established schizophrenia, but if they prove resistant to antipsychotic medication there is a very limited evidence base regarding specific treatments. The aim of this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is to establish the clinical and cost effectiveness of an SSRI antidepressant, citalopram, in the management of negative symptoms of schizophrenia over a year. The study sample will be adults with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, clinically stable for 3 months with a consistent antipsychotic regimen, and characterised by persistent negative symptoms to a criterion level of severity.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
62
Treatment with citalopram will be initiated at 20mg/day for the first 4 weeks (or one placebo capsule), followed by the option to increase the dose to 40mg per day (or two placebo capsules) for the remainder of the study period.
Treatment with citalopram will be initiated at 20mg/day for the first 4 weeks (or one placebo capsule), followed by the option to increase the dose to 40mg per day (or two placebo capsules) for the remainder of the study period.
Avon and Wiltshire mental health partnership
Bristol, United Kingdom
Derbyshire healthcare NHS foundation trust
Derby, United Kingdom
Lincolnshire partnership NHS foundation trust
PANSS Negative Symptom Score
The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) is a semi-structured interview to elicit symptom ratings for 30 symptoms of psychosis, each scored between 1-7. The negative symptoms subscale uses the individual items in the PANSS that Marder identified as negative symptom (blunted affect, emotional withdrawal, poor rapport, passive/ apathetic social withdrawal, motor retardation, active social avoidance and lack of spontaneity/flow of conversation). Scores on these individual items are summed to create the subscale score. The subscale has a range of 7 to 49, with higher scores indicate greater psychopathology
Time frame: 12 weeks
Heinrich's Quality of Life Scale Score
The Heinrichs Quality of Life scale is a 21-item scale based on a semi-structured interview designed to assess deficit symptoms. Each items is scored from 0-6 and the total score is the sum of all item responses. The total score has a range of 0 to 126, with higher scores indicating better functioning.
Time frame: 12 weeks
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Lincoln, United Kingdom
West london Mental Health Trust
London, United Kingdom
Camden and Islington NHS foundation trust
London, United Kingdom
Central and North West London NHS foundation trust
London, United Kingdom
Oxleas NHS foundation trust
London, United Kingdom
South London and the Maudsley
London, United Kingdom
Manchester health and social care trust
Manchester, United Kingdom
Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS foundation trust
Newcastle, United Kingdom
...and 4 more locations