Abstract
BackgroundCognitive impairment is the most important feature of schizophrenia that leads to severe social and functional disability. Improving neurocognitive physiopathologic aspect of schizophrenia is a current challenge to identify the pathway to develop goal directed clinical interventions in practice. In the current study we investigated the effect of raloxifine as a selective estrogen modulator and isradipine as a voltage gated L type calcium channel blocker on the enhancement of schizophrenic patients’ cognitive deficits.MethodsWe designed a double blind randomized, parallel, placebo controlled clinical trials. 60 patients with schizophrenia randomized in 3 specific groups. The first group received isradipine 5 mg, the second raloxifine 60 mg and the third placebo for 6 consequent weeks, in the same shape capsules, 2 times a day, alongside treatment with the conventional antipsychotics. The initial and final lab tests, ECG, as well as cognitive tests in specific domains such as attention, processing speed, executive function and verbal memory were carried out.ResultsOur findings, revealed a remarkable association between adjunctive treatment of raloxifine in verbal memory deficits. moreover, isradipine treatment indicated significant improvement relative to placebo in verbal memory as well as attention dysfunction in some variables of the Stroop test. However, no effect was observed in processing speed and executive function deficits.DiscussionThe study provides the first evidence to our knowledge, which isradipine as a novel therapy was associated with improvement in verbal memory and attention, both related to hippocampal and cerebellar activity. Overall, further investigation is necessary to determine the various ways of the both drugs performance in the brain.
Highlights
Cognitive impairment is a core feature of schizophrenia, which limits functions of individuals with schizophrenia and negatively influences their quality of life (Green, 1993; Green et al, 2000; Heaton et al, 2001; Heinrichs, 1998)
While pharmacological treatment is known to have a limited effect on impaired cognition in schizophrenia (Marder, 2006; Rund and Borg, 1999; Elie et al, 2010), a majority of literature has concluded that cognitive remediation(CR) produces small to moderate improvements (McGurk et al, 2007; Wykes et al, 2011)
In this multi-center randomized controlled trial patients with a psychotic disorder and paranoia were randomized to virtual reality based cognitive behavior therapy (VR-CBT) (n = 58) or treatment as usual (TAU; n = 58)
Summary
Corollary discharge (CD), ubiquitous throughout the animal kingdom, refers to suppression of sensory consequences arising from selfgenerated actions. Corollary discharge index (CDI) was calculated by subtracting Listen condition N1 amplitude from Talk condition N1 amplitude (at FCz) Among these 27 patients, 13 patients participated in a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study examining the effect of add-on tDCS on AVH and CDI [5 consecutive days, twice-daily, 20-minute sessions; 2mA; anode: left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; cathode: left temporo-parietal junction]. Mediation analysis was modelled with tDCS type (Verum vs Sham) as independent variable, percent change in auditory hallucination rating scale score (AHRS) as dependent variable and percent change in CDI as the mediator. Regression analysis showed that tDCS type (verum/sham) was a significant predictor of percent change in AHRS (β=-27.46, p=0.003) as well as percent change in CDI (β=-1.40, p=0.033). When controlled for percent change in CDI, tDCS type ceased to be a significant predictor of percent change in AHRS (β=-15.0, p=0.063). Marcelo Chiramberro*,1, Tuula Kieseppä, Asko Wegelius, Tuomo Töhönen, Jenna Ilvonen, Heli Väisänen, Katja Sarkkinen, Jenni Tikkala, Marita Leiponen, Markku Ruppa, Matias Hyytiäinen, Ira Hynninen-Sundelin, Esa Anttonen1 1Peijas Hospital, University of Helsinki; 2Helsinki University Hospital
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
