View clinical trials related to Schizoaffective Disorder.
Filter by:The first aim of this study is to determine whether a brain reward center (BRC) deficiency in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) and cannabis use disorder (CUD) will be normalized when patients are given cannabis or dronabinol. The second aim will serve to further assess the effects of dronabinol on symptoms and medication side effects in this population.
Background: - Some illnesses, such as schizophrenia, have effects on brain cells called dopamine receptors, which are required for normal brain function. People with schizophrenia have difficulty thinking and experience hallucinations and delusions. Medications that change brain dopamine receptors can decrease these hallucinations and delusions. - The cause of schizophrenia and its association with brain dopamine receptors is not known but may be clarified by studying dopamine receptors in people who have dopamine disorders (such as schizophrenia) and those who do not. Researchers are interested in studying the dopamine system to gain a better idea of how dopamine disorders develop, which may lead to better medical care for people with schizophrenia. Objectives: - To study the amount and distribution of two types of dopamine receptors. Eligibility: - Individuals between the ages of 18 and 60 who have schizophrenia. - Healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 and 90. Design: - Participants will undergo a full screening, with physical and psychological history, a neurological examination, and blood and urine samples. - Participants will have a blood flow map of the brain recorded with a positron emission tomography (PET) brain scan. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan will also be performed to determine brain anatomy. - To study the amount and distribution of dopamine receptors in the brain, participants will receive a small amount of a radioactive chemical in the vein, followed by a PET scan. - The procedure will be performed twice in two separate sessions, once for [18F]fallypride and once for [11C]NNC-112.
The purpose of this study is to develop a treatment manual for mindfulness meditation to be taught in a group format to individuals with schizophrenia who are engaged in vocational rehabilitation. This study will also determine whether mindfulness meditation is beneficial in terms of improving work function by reducing distressing emotional states and thinking patterns.
There is some evidence that anti-inflammatory treatment may have beneficial effects in schizophrenia and major depression. Cox-2 inhibitors have been tested in preliminary clinical trials for schizophrenia and depression, showing favourable effects compared to placebo (Muller and Schwarz et al 2009). Statins were introduced as cholesterol-lowering agents but have found much wider usage. They are anti-inflammatory agents and thus similar to the Cox-2 inhibitors, which have shown some ability as adjuncts to improve the symptoms of schizophrenia in preliminary studies. The statins are also known to decrease C-reactive protein (CRP), which has been shown in an SMRI-funded study to be elevated in a study of individuals with schizophrenia. Fan et al (2007) demonstrated in a small study in patients with schizophrenia that higher than normal levels of CRP (>0.50 mg/dl) was associated with marked negative symptoms and higher total PANSS scores. Ondansetron is a serotonin (5-HT3) receptor antagonist that is generic and widely used to prevent nausea and vomiting in patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer. GSK did a small study on it as an antipsychotic in the 1980s. Since then, several small studies have suggested that it is effective as an adjunct drug in improving the symptoms of schizophrenia. Statins are widely used in schizophrenia sufferers, particularly those taking second generation antipsychotics, to treat hypercholesterolemia. Both drugs are well tolerated and their side effect profiles well understood. We propose to conduct a feasibility study in patients with chronic schizophrenia to explore the adjunct use of simvastatin and ondansetron on positive, negative and general psychopathology in comparisons to treatment as usual (TAU) over a 12 week period.
The aim of this randomized, double-blind study is to verify the hypothesis that clozapine monotherapy is as efficient as a combination of clozapine and olanzapine therapy in treatment-resistant schizophrenia. A third of schizophrenia patients are non -responders to medications used nowadays. These patients are usually treated with clozapine, but a large proportion of patients don't recover sufficiently. Therefore, these patients are treated with combination of two or more drugs to achieve better treatment results. Until now the scientific evidence has been insufficient to assess the utility of polypharmacy. The aim is to study during 2009 with voluntary patients, if there is any benefit of olanzapine augmentation compared with pure clozapine monotherapy. During the study the patients are not exposed to any additional intervention. The intervention in this study is just to reduce the previously used polypharmacy. Methods: This study lasts for 24 weeks. Participants (30) are randomized in one of two alternative interventions (A or B) before the study. After 12 weeks the intervention arms cross over (from A to B and from B to A). Group B: In addition to clozapine, the participants receive their normal dosage of olanzapine (=the same as on the hospital ward) for 12 weeks, next the decreasing dosage of olanzapine for four weeks and subsequently placebo for 8 weeks Group A: : In addition to clozapine the participants receive the decreasing dosage of olanzapine for four weeks, next placebo for 8 weeks, after that the increasing dosage of olanzapine for four weeks and subsequently the normal dosage of olanzapine for 8 weeks The response for the medical treatment is assessed by Clinical Global Improvement Scale (CGIS) and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) -scale. The primary outcomes are GAF and modified CGIS during the parallel phase of the study (the first 12 weeks). The second phase (the last 12 weeks) of the cross-over study is used in the secondary analysis. The use of additional medication (such as benzodiazepines) is used as a secondary outcome measure.
In a randomized clinical trial, the researchers want to investigate if the positive short-term outcomes (first 1-2 years), achieved with specialized assertive intervention programme (OPUS), can be maintained for five years if the specialized treatment is sustained over the first five years in comparison to only two years of specialized treatment followed by three years of standard treatment.
Patients suffering from schizophrenia who attend the communication skills program engage more deeply in therapeutic reasoning and treatment decisions. This results in stronger preferences to participate, greater perceived involvement and better long term adherence compared to patients who do not attend the training.
The objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of allopurinol, compared to placebo, as add-on to anti-psychotics in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia.
This prospective study examines the differences among several measures of adherence to antipsychotic medications in outpatients with schizophrenia. Adherence is assessed by using self-report, physician report, pill count and electronic monitoring. The rates of adherence/non-adherence with various tools will be manifested. The association between antipsychotic adherence/non-adherence and various clinical status, including psychotic symptoms, depressive symptoms, side effects, neurocognitive function and insight are analyzed. Participants are assessed at baseline during a visit to their outpatient clinic and followed up for 8 weeks.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar I disorder who also have metabolic syndrome have a larger decrease in fasting non-high density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol levels with aripiprazole than with their current atypical antipsychotic treatment (olanzapine, risperidone, or quetiapine).