PANSS and Cognition Change in D-Cycloserine Compination Treatment of Schizophrenia.
- Author:
Byung Mun YOON
1
;
Sung Geun LEE
;
Sook Haeng JOE
;
In Kwa JEONG
;
Seung Hyun KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Neuropsychiatry, Korea. knnc@neuropsy.co.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Randomized Controlled Trial
- Keywords:
Schizophrenia;
D-cycloserine;
Negative symptoms;
N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
- MeSH:
Antipsychotic Agents;
Chlorpromazine;
Cognition*;
Depression;
Glycine;
Humans;
Inpatients;
Intelligence;
Memory;
N-Methylaspartate;
Psychopathology;
Receptors, Glutamate;
Schizophrenia*
- From:Korean Journal of Psychopharmacology
2002;13(4):289-296
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: Recently, there are many reports that glutamate receptors have close relationships with a pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of D-cycloserine, which is glycine site partial agonist in NMDA receptor on psychopathologic symptoms and cognitive functions. METHODS: This study was done for chronic schizophrenic inpatients taking typical antipsychotics for more than 4 months. Exclusion criteria were patients with over 8 points according to Simpson-Angus scale for EPS or those with over 17 points of Hamilton Depression Scale. Patients were randomized to classify into two groups; D-cycloserine group (n=13) and placebo group (n=13). Each group received D-cycloserine 100 mg or placebo separately for 8 weeks. Psychopathology was evaluated with PANSS at baseline, 2nd week, fourth week and eighth week. Cognitive function was evaluated with KWIS at baseline and eighth week. RESULTS: Total 26 patients completed this trial. The average period of morbidity was 10.39+/-3.87 years and the average doses of antipsychotic was 1228.35+/-720.30 mg based on chlorpromazine equivalent. In positive subscale, negative subscale, general psychopathology subscale, total PANSS scale and KWIS, there were no significant differences between D-cycloserine and placebo groups. However, negative subscale scores had decreased from 24.92+/-3.64 (Baseline) to 23.46+/-3.41 (week 8) (p=0.077). CONCLUSION: There were no clear changes in positive symptom, negative symptom, memory, language function, and performance intelligence when D-cycloserine 100 mg was given with antipsychotic medication. However, some patients showed clear improvement in negative symptom, especially blunted affect. Therefore, D-cycloserine combination therapy could be effective for negative symptom. In future, study that can show effectiveness in psychopathology and cognitive function according to drug dosage is needed.