This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Pregnenolone is a naturally occuring steroid that is active directly on membrane receptors. Pregnenolone acts as a co-agonist on the NMDA receptor and has been found to improve learning, and memory in animals. NMDA receptors have been postulated to be important in the pathophysiology, and potentially treatment of patients with schizophrenia. This study seeks to examine pregnenolone in patients with schizophrenia.
The specific aims are to: Determine the maximal tolerable dose of pregnenolone in patients with schizophrenia; determine preliminarily if pregnenolone reduces symptoms of schizophrenia; develop parameters of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of pregnenolone. The primary phase of the study has been completed. It was found that pregnenolone was well tolerated and based on a small sample size, improved negative symptoms of schizophrenia. A subset of patients continues to be treated in an ongoing open continuation trial. Subjects continue to tolerate the pregnenolone well and feel that it is beneficial.
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