The present proposal is a four site multi-center study designed to assess the efficacy of the cognitive impairments in patients with schizophrenia. These manifestations of schizophrenia account for much of the long-term morbidity, impaired social and occupational functioning, and poor quality of life observed in patients with schizophrenia. Persistent negative symptoms may either be primary (deficit symptoms) or secondary. At present, conventional and novel anti-psychotics have limited efficacy for secondary negative symptoms, and there are no known effective treatments for deficit symptoms. There are also no known agents with robust efficacy for cognitive impairments. The long-term objective of this application is to develop an effective treatment for persistent negative symptoms both primary and secondary, and cognitive impairments.
The Specific Aims are to examine whether: 1) d-cycloserine and/or glycine is superior to placebo for the treatment of persistent primary and secondary negative symptoms; and 2) d-cycloserine and/or glycine is superior to placebo in the treatment of cognitive impairments in deficit and non- deficit patients. Secondary goals include:"""""""" a) to establish a standard clinical trial methodology to assess the therapeutic efficacy of potential treatments of persistent negative symptoms and cognitive impairments; and b) to describe the relationship between cognitive impairments, as assessed by neuropsychological test performance, and negative symptoms in the clinical trial context. The study will be a 16-week double-blind, parallel groups comparison of adjunctive medication (i.e., d-cycloserine and glycine) and placebo. Neuropsychological tests will be used to assess cognitive functioning, and will be administered at baseline and at the end of the study. The study will provide new information on the efficacy of d- cycloserine and glycine for both persistent primary and secondary negative symptoms and its effect on cognitive functioning.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH059750-04
Application #
6627611
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZMH1-CRB-B (02))
Program Officer
Hsiao, John
Project Start
2000-01-15
Project End
2005-07-31
Budget Start
2003-01-01
Budget End
2005-07-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$354,767
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Los Angeles
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
092530369
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90095