Niacin Skin Flush Response in Patients With Schizophrenia

Isfahan University of Medical Sciences100 enrolled

Overview

Patients with schizophrenia have abnormal skin flush response to niacin, but the niacin skin test accuracy is not well studied in these patients. The study evaluated the niacin skin test accuracy in adult hospitalized schizophrenia patients and their first degree relatives, bipolar disorder patients, and healthy controls.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

100

Conditions

Schizophrenia

Interventions

Niacin skin testBIOLOGICAL

Two concentrations including 0.5 ml solutions of 0.01 M and 0.1 M diluted methyl nicotinate were applied for one minute to the inside of the different forearms of each individual.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of schizophrenia patients and bipolar disorder patients diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders version IV criteria * Normal healthy subjects without a psychiatric history * First degree relatives of schizophrenic patients Exclusion Criteria: * Dermatological lesions, asthma or allergic disease, diabetes, chronic hypertension, vasculitis, substance use disorders (except cigarette smoking), or pregnancy * Taking any oral medication that could affect the metabolism of prostaglandins such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Skin flush response

Skin response was assessed by a single physician every 5 minutes for 20 minutes after removal of the substance. The outcome assessor was not blinded to the applied solution dosages. The strength of the flushing reaction was classified as 0 = no redness, 1 = faint redness, 2 = distinct redness, and 3 = extreme or maximum redness.

Time frame: Every 5 minutes for 20 minutes

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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