View clinical trials related to Schizophreniform Disorder.
Filter by:Anticholinergic antiparkinsonian agents often cause side-effects including cognitive impairment, dry mouth, and constipation while they diminish antipsychotic-induced parkinsonian symptoms. The introduction of second generation antipsychotics (SGA) brought fewer neurological side effects. However, anticholinergic coprescription rates are still as high as 12-65% in patients on SGA that are much higher than the incidence of EPS reported in clinical trials (3-20%). This apparently discrepancy is likely explained, in part, by the established tradition of routine use of this medications. Older patients are particularly sensitive to anticholinergic side-effects due to age-related changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. In this study, we will examine the safety and benefits of reducing the dose of a frequently prescribed anticholinergics, benztropine, on cognitive function, extrapyramidal symptoms, and psychotic symptoms in older subjects with a primary psychotic disorder.
The study attempts to evaluate a histamine analog long used for the treatment of Meniere's disease, betahistine, that shows promise in reversing the antihistaminergic effects thought to be involved in antipsychotic induced weight gain. Hypothesis to be tested: A. Patients who have gained a developmentally inappropriate amount of weight on antipsychotics (AP) will see their weight and BMI decrease with betahistine augmentation as compared to placebo augmentation. B. Betahistine augmentation in AP treated patients will increase levels of satiety in a standardized meal situation and decrease caloric intake as compared to placebo augmentation. C. Metabolic effects of betahistine augmentation in AP treated patients will be reflected in differences in waist circumference, hip circumference and waist hip ratios D. Betahistine augmentation in this population will lead to decrease in fasting glucose-lipid lab values related to the development of metabolic syndrome as compared to placebo augmentation
Environmental risk factors for the development of schizophrenia include infections during the perinatal period or later in life with Toxoplasma gondii (TG) being one of the candidate agents. A recent review (Torrey and Yolken, 2003) on TG in schizophrenia and other serious mental disorder reported higher antibodies to TG in patients compared to controls in 18 of 19 studies, one having been conducted by the investigators group. In a second, independent study on first-episode schizophrenia (n=56) and control subjects (n=32), sera were sampled and standard instruments used to assess diagnoses and psychopathology, respectively to screening controls. For the total sample, contacts with animals during pregnancy and age emerged as a non-significant predictors of TG IgG titers. Means of patients' and controls' TG IgG titers did not differ significantly but variances did; a subgroup of patients' titers reached much higher levels than those of controls. Patients in the high TG IgG subgroup were older (p=0.001), also they were older when psychiatric symptoms appeared, more individuals had regular animal contacts during pregnancy, or rural upbringing including regular animal contact, more consumption of raw meat, and a higher absolute treatment response (all trend levels). Regarding the short term course of patients, the investigators detected decreasing IgG titers in several individuals A power analysis demonstrated that results fell short of significance due to lack of statistical power. Based on the power analysis, the investigators propose an opel label, multicenter study at three regionally different sites within Germany (Halle, Hamm, Heidelberg). The investigators intent to study 173 first-episode patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective, and schizophreniform disorder and 173 matched controls. The investigators hypothesize that - according to the heterogeneity of the illness - a subgroup of patients will exhibit higher TG IgG titers compared to the remaining patients and to controls; that this subgroup will have had regular contact with animals during pregnancy and early life as well as developmental delays; and that clinical improvement, response to treatment, and subjective well-being will run parallel with TG IgG decrease. Patients shall be assessed on admission to hospital, at discharge and at 6- and 12-month-follow-up with respect to TG antibody titers, symptomatology, neuropsychology, predictors of outcome, quality of life, and neurological soft signs. In controls two assessments shall be performed, 12 months apart. All foreseen assessments will be performed using standard measurement instruments with sound reliability and validity such as the SCID and the PANSS. Exposure to cats, other warm-blooded life-stock, and raw meat will be assessed using a special questionnaire.
The purpose of the study is to investigate the well-being of schizophrenic patients treated with quetiapine XR combined with participation in the integrated care program compared to a treatment with quetiapine XR alone over a period of 18 month
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety of risperidone treatment in patients who are overweight and/or obese.
The principal aim of the project is to conduct an off-label adjunctive clinical trial evaluating varenicline as a treatment for core neurobiological and clinical deficits in schizophrenia, in addition to evaluating for smoking cessation in schizophrenia patients.
In the last decade cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approaches for patients with schizophrenia have been developed, which where especially designed to reduce severity of positive symptoms, readmission rates, treatment non-compliance and disability. Although CBT addresses the key problems of early onset psychoses (EOP)treatment and first evaluations of CBT in adults with schizophrenia are promising, no experience with CBT in adolescents with EOP are available. Therefore the present study is conducted to develop a modified CBT (mCBT) for adolescents with EOP, to explore its acceptance and feasibility and to provide data for a realistic estimation of achievable effect size. Patients are randomized to receive either mCBT+TAU or TAU over a 9 month period. mCBT is an individual outpatient treatment of 20 session and 5 psychoeducational sessions with parents. Follow-ups for two years every 6 months are planned.
This is a double blind randomized investigation of donepezil for patients suffering from schizophrenia, undergoing ECT. Patients will be randomized to receive either donezepil or plasebo, in order to gauge whether donezepil has a protective effect on memory disfunction, while patients are treated with ECT. Several parameters will be invistigated at baseline: general psychopathological measures, memory function scales, side effects scales. The same measurements will be taken throughout the trial and one month after ending the ECT.
This is a pilot study evaluating the feasibility of a new family-based intervention for schizophrenia. It is designed to help clients diagnosed with schizophrenia to overcome the devastating effects of neurocognitive deficits on everyday functioning (Family-Directed Cognitive Adaptation, FCA). Cognitive deficits in schizophrenia are known to contribute to devastating functional impairments and caregiver burden, as clients rely on caregivers for help with basic living needs, such as personal hygiene, time management, social skills, and progress towards vocational and educational goals. Specifically, we will 1) Develop a manualized, family treatment program designed to improve adaptive functioning of patients with schizophrenia, and 2) Conduct a pilot feasibility study to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of this intervention, and to collect preliminary outcome data. This will lay the foundation for a controlled trial of the efficacy of the intervention. We expect that: 1. The FCA intervention will be well-received and well-tolerated by clients and families, as demonstrated by a high level of interest in the program, a low rate of attrition, and a high rate of participant satisfaction. 2. Client participants in the FCA intervention will show improvements in adaptive, independent-living skills (e.g., personal hygiene and self-care, medication management, time management, social skills, and responsibility for health maintenance) that will be maintained three and six months following completion of the intervention. 3. Family members participating in the FCA program will show reduced burden of care and time spent caregiving, greater satisfaction in their relationship with the client, improved self-efficacy in the caregiver role, and reduced psychological distress (e.g., depression, anxiety, and hopelessness) at the completion of the program and at three and six-month follow-up interviews.
This open-label study will assess the medication Geodon® (Ziprasidone) in pediatric patients, aged 13-17, diagnosed with psychotic disorder. Eligible adolescents will receive Geodon® for 7 weeks and stay at the NYSPI Children's Day Unit (CDU) during the day. If clinically appropriate, they may also stay at the New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI) Schizophrenia Research Unit (SRU) inpatient facility.