Treating Schizophrenia by Correcting Abnormal Brain Development
| Status: | Active, not recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Schizophrenia |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 25 |
| Updated: | 12/13/2018 |
| Start Date: | November 2003 |
| End Date: | September 2019 |
Addition of Tiagabine to Second-Generation Antipsychotics in the Treatment of Recent-Onset Schizophrenia by Modification of Developmental Reorganization of the Prefrontal Cortex
The purpose of this study is to determine whether treatment with tiagabine (Gabitril) during
the early course of schizophrenia can fundamentally correct the brain deficits associated
with the disease.
This study is funded by the National Institutes of Health.
the early course of schizophrenia can fundamentally correct the brain deficits associated
with the disease.
This study is funded by the National Institutes of Health.
It is hypothesized that enhancement of GABA neurotransmission during the early course of the
illness by tiagabine (Gabitril), a GABA transporter GAT-1-specific inhibitor and a
FDA-approved anticonvulsant, will improve both clinical symptoms and working memory in
schizophrenia. This improvement is postulated to be the result of tiagabine-mediated
modification of the developmental synaptic pruning of prefrontal cortical circuitry. The
occurrence of circuitry modification after tiagabine treatment will be assessed by the
following independent methodologic approaches: MRI morphometric analysis of prefrontal gray
matter volume and fMRI measurements of brain activity patterns during performance of tasks
that probe working memory.
illness by tiagabine (Gabitril), a GABA transporter GAT-1-specific inhibitor and a
FDA-approved anticonvulsant, will improve both clinical symptoms and working memory in
schizophrenia. This improvement is postulated to be the result of tiagabine-mediated
modification of the developmental synaptic pruning of prefrontal cortical circuitry. The
occurrence of circuitry modification after tiagabine treatment will be assessed by the
following independent methodologic approaches: MRI morphometric analysis of prefrontal gray
matter volume and fMRI measurements of brain activity patterns during performance of tasks
that probe working memory.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Meets criteria for the diagnosis of schizophrenia, with onset of psychotic symptoms
within the past 3 years.
- Currently on second-generation antipsychotics for at least 3 months.
- Age 18-25, otherwise healthy.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder.
- Has failed two or more clinically adequate antipsychotic trials.
- History of seizures or any neurologic disorders.
- Pregnant or nursing women.
- Known HIV infection.
- Actively suicidal.
- History of any substance dependence.
- Currently meets criteria for substance abuse/dependence.
- Other MRI exclusion criteria per Radiology Department protocols.
We found this trial at
1
site
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is one of the...
Click here to add this to my saved trials
