Effects of adjunctive celecoxib treatment with risperidone on the cognitive function in first-episode schizophrenia patients

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effects of celecoxib added to risperidone on the cognitive function in the first-episode patients with schizophrenia.Methods Ninety inpatients with first-episode schizophrenia (DSM-IV criteria) were enrolled and assigned randomly into risperidone plus celecoxib group (46 cases) and risperidone plus placebo group (44 cases).The dosage of risperidone,starting from 2 mg/ d was adjusted according to the clinical efficacy and side-effects.The dosage of celecoxib was 200 mg/d for the first week,and maintained at 400 mg/d until the end of 12-week study.The cognitive function was rated with the Wisconsin Cards Sort Test (WCST) and Repeatable Battery for the Assessmental of Neurepsychological Status(RBANS) both at baseline and after 12 week.The psychiatric symptoms were rated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and Hamilton Depression Scale at baseline,4-,8- and 12-week treatment.Results The RBANS total score,immediate memory subscore,attention subscore and delayed memory subscore were markedly increased after treatment in celecoxib group ( all P ＜ 0.05 ),and so was in placebo group but not of the immediate memory subscore.The delayed memory subscore was significantly higher in males than females in celecoxib group (P ＜0.05 ).The subscores of categories completed,replies correct,replies error (Re) and replies of the first categories (Rf) of WCST were markedly improved after treatment in celecoxib group ( P ＜ 0.05 ),and so were the subscores of Re and Rf of WCST in placebo group ( P ＜ 0.05 ),but no significant difference in any scale scores between the two groups ( all P ＞ 0.05 ).The improvements of psychiatric symptoms were significantly correlated to the increase of cognitive function in celecoxib group ( P ＜ 0.05 ),but not in placebo group.Conclusion The results suggest risperidone could improve cognitive function in patients with first-episode schizophrenia,and adjunctive celecoxib therapy promote delayed memory in males. Key words: Schizophrenia; Cognition; Risperidone; Cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors; Celecoxib