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Arsenault‐Mehta K, Hochman‐Bérard M, Johnson A, Semenova D, Nguyen B, Willis J, Mouravska N, Joober R, Zhand N. Pharmacological management of neurocognitive impairment in schizophrenia: A narrative review. Neuropsychopharmacol Rep 2024; 44:2-16. [PMID: 37794723 PMCID: PMC10932777 DOI: 10.1002/npr2.12382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive impairment are among the core features of schizophrenia, experienced by up to 75% of patients. Available treatment options for schizophrenia including dopamine antagonists and traditional antipsychotic medications have not been shown to confer significant benefits on cognitive deficits. Contrary to the focus on management of positive symptoms in schizophrenia, cognitive abilities are main predictor of independent living skills, functional abilities, employment, engagement in relapse prevention, and patients' subjective sense of well-being and quality of life. This review aims to provide a summary of recent literature on pharmacological options for the treatment of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. METHODS We conducted a literature search of studies from 2011 to 2021 across four electronic databases including PubMed, PsycInfo, MEDLINE, and Embase. Human studies using a pharmacological treatment for cognitive impairment in schizophrenia were included. RESULTS Fifty-eight eligible publications, representing 11 pharmacological classes, were included in this review. Major limitations involved small sample size, methodological limitations as well as heterogeneity of participants and outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS Overall evidence remains inconclusive for any pharmacological classes studied for the treatment of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Methodological limitations in a majority of the studies rendered their findings preliminary. We further discuss possible explanations for these findings that could guide future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Arsenault‐Mehta
- The Royal Ottawa Mental Health CenterThe University of Ottawa Faculty of MedicineOttawaOntarioCanada
| | | | | | - Dar'ya Semenova
- The University of Ottawa Faculty of MedicineOttawaOntarioCanada
| | - Bea Nguyen
- The University of Ottawa Faculty of MedicineOttawaOntarioCanada
| | - Jessie Willis
- The University of Ottawa Faculty of MedicineOttawaOntarioCanada
| | - Natalia Mouravska
- The Royal Ottawa Mental Health CenterThe University of Ottawa Faculty of MedicineOttawaOntarioCanada
| | - Ridha Joober
- Department of PsychiatryMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Naista Zhand
- The Royal Ottawa Mental Health CenterThe University of Ottawa Faculty of MedicineOttawaOntarioCanada
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Capuzzi E, Caldiroli A, Quitadamo C, Butturini F, Surace T, Clerici M, Buoli M. Novel pharmacotherapy targeting the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2023; 24:1623-1648. [PMID: 37401388 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2023.2231346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The severity of positive symptoms in schizophrenia is associated with poor prognosis. About one-third of schizophrenia patients partially respond to treatment with available antipsychotics. The purpose of the present manuscript is to provide an updated overview of novel pharmacotherapy targeting positive symptoms in schizophrenia. AREAS COVERED A comprehensive research on the main database sources (PubMed, PsychINFO, Isi Web of Knowledge, MEDLINE, and EMBASE) was performed to obtain original articles published till 31st January 2023 about new pharmacological strategies for the treatment of positive symptoms in schizophrenia. EXPERT OPINION The most promising compounds include: lamotrigine, pro-cognitive-compounds (donepezil - in the short term, idazoxan and piracetam) and drugs acting partially or totally outside the Central Nervous System (CNS) (anti-inflammatory drugs: celecoxib, methotrexate; cardiovascular compounds: L-theanine, mononitrate isosorbide, propentofylline, sodium nitroprusside; metabolic regulators: diazoxide, allopurinol; others: bexarotene, raloxifene [in women]). The effectiveness of the latter compounds indicates that other biological systems, such as immunity or metabolism can be object of future research to identify pharmacological targets for positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Mirtazapine could be useful for treating negative symptoms without increasing the risk of a worsening of delusions/hallucinations. Nevertheless, the lack of replication of studies prevents to draw definitive conclusions and future studies are needed to confirm the findings presented in this overview.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Capuzzi
- Fondazione IRCCS, Department of Mental Health and Addiction, San Gerardo Dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Alice Caldiroli
- Fondazione IRCCS, Department of Mental Health and Addiction, San Gerardo Dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Cecilia Quitadamo
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, MB, Italy
| | - Francesco Butturini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, MB, Italy
| | - Teresa Surace
- Fondazione IRCCS, Department of Mental Health and Addiction, San Gerardo Dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Massimo Clerici
- Fondazione IRCCS, Department of Mental Health and Addiction, San Gerardo Dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, MB, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Buoli
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Zhuo C, Zhao F, Tian H, Chen J, Li Q, Yang L, Ping J, Li R, Wang L, Xu Y, Cai Z, Song X. Acid sphingomyelinase/ceramide system in schizophrenia: implications for therapeutic intervention as a potential novel target. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:260. [PMID: 35739089 PMCID: PMC9226132 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01999-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness, as the efficacies of current antipsychotic medications are far from satisfactory. An improved understanding of the signaling molecules involved in schizophrenia may provide novel therapeutic targets. Acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) catalyzes cellular membrane sphingomyelin into ceramide, which is further metabolized into sphingosine-1-phophate (S1P). ASM, ceramide, and S1P at the cell surface exert critical roles in the regulation of biophysical processes that include proliferation, apoptosis, and inflammation, and are thereby considered important signaling molecules. Although research on the ASM/ceramide system is still in its infancy, structural and metabolic abnormalities have been demonstrated in schizophrenia. ASM/ceramide system dysfunction is linked to the two important models of schizophrenia, the dopamine (DA) hypothesis through affecting presynaptic DA signaling, and the vulnerability-stress-inflammation model that includes the contribution of stress on the basis of genetic predisposition. In this review, we highlight the current knowledge of ASM/ceramide system dysfunction in schizophrenia gained from human and animal studies, and formulate future directions from the biological landscape for the development of new treatments. Collectively, these discoveries suggest that aberrations in the ASM/ceramide system, especially in ASM activity and levels of ceramide and S1P, may alter cerebral microdomain structure and neuronal metabolism, leading to neurotransmitter (e.g., DA) dysfunction and neuroinflammation. As such, the ASM/ceramide system may offer therapeutic targets for novel medical interventions. Normalization of the aberrant ASM/ceramide system or ceramide reduction by using approved functional inhibitors of ASM, such as fluvoxamine and rosuvastatin, may improve clinical outcomes of patients with schizophrenia. These transformative findings of the ASM/ceramide system in schizophrenia, although intriguing and exciting, may pose scientific questions and challenges that will require further studies for their resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanjun Zhuo
- Key Laboratory of Real Time Tracing Brain Circuit, Tianjin Medical Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Nankai University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin Fourth Hospital, 300140, Tianjin, China. .,The key Laboratory of Psychiatric-Neuroimaging-Genetics and Comorbidity (PNGC_Lab) of Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, 300222, Tianjin, China. .,Brain Micro-imaging Center of Psychiatric Animal Model, Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, 325000, Wenzhou, China. .,Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth Center Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, 300222, Tianjin, China. .,Key Laboratory of the Macro-Brain Neuroimaging Center of Animal Model, Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, 325000, Wenzhou, China. .,Department of Psychiatry, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, 03000, Taiyuan, China. .,Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Feifei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of the Macro-Brain Neuroimaging Center of Animal Model, Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, 325000 Wenzhou, China
| | - Hongjun Tian
- grid.265021.20000 0000 9792 1228Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth Center Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, 300222 Tianjin, China
| | - Jiayue Chen
- grid.265021.20000 0000 9792 1228Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth Center Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, 300222 Tianjin, China
| | - Qianchen Li
- grid.265021.20000 0000 9792 1228Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth Center Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, 300222 Tianjin, China
| | - Lei Yang
- grid.265021.20000 0000 9792 1228Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth Center Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, 300222 Tianjin, China
| | - Jing Ping
- Key Laboratory of the Macro-Brain Neuroimaging Center of Animal Model, Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, 325000 Wenzhou, China
| | - Ranli Li
- Key Laboratory of the Macro-Brain Neuroimaging Center of Animal Model, Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, 325000 Wenzhou, China
| | - Lina Wang
- Key Laboratory of the Macro-Brain Neuroimaging Center of Animal Model, Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, 325000 Wenzhou, China
| | - Yong Xu
- grid.452461.00000 0004 1762 8478Department of Psychiatry, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, 03000 Taiyuan, China
| | - Ziyao Cai
- Key Laboratory of the Macro-Brain Neuroimaging Center of Animal Model, Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, 325000 Wenzhou, China
| | - Xueqin Song
- Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, China.
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Sun CH, Jiang WL, Cai DB, Wang ZM, Sim K, Ungvari GS, Huang X, Zheng W, Xiang YT. Adjunctive multi-session transcranial direct current stimulation for neurocognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia: A meta-analysis. Asian J Psychiatr 2021; 66:102887. [PMID: 34740126 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Findings of multi-session transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as an adjunctive treatment of neurocognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia have been inconsistent. This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigated the neurocognitive effects of adjunctive multi-session tDCS for schizophrenia. Twelve RCTs covering 418 schizophrenia patients were included and analyzed in this meta-analysis. The RevMan software (Version 5.3) was used to calculate risk ratios (RRs) and standardized mean differences (SMDs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Adjunctive tDCS outperformed the comparator in improving working memory deficits (SMD = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.65; I2 = 52%; p = 0.03), but no significant effects were found in other cognitive domains. No group differences were found with regard to total psychopathology measured by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (SMD =-0.29, 95%CI: -0.61, 0.03; I2 = 50%, p = 0.07) and discontinuation due to any reason (RR=0.80, 95%CI: 0.39, 1.66; I2 = 9%, p = 0.56). Adjunctive tDCS appears to have a significant therapeutic effect improving the working memory deficits in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Hui Sun
- Qingdao Mental Health Center, Qingdao University, Shandong, China
| | | | - Dong-Bin Cai
- Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhi-Min Wang
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital & the Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Kang Sim
- West Region, Institute of Mental Health, Buangkok Green Medical Park, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gabor S Ungvari
- University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Australia; Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Xiong Huang
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (Guangzhou Huiai Hospital), Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Zheng
- The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (Guangzhou Huiai Hospital), Guangzhou, China.
| | - Yu-Tao Xiang
- Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Public Health and Medicinal Administration, & Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China; Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China; Institute of Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China
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Adjunctive Fluvoxamine for Schizophrenia: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trials. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2021; 40:386-390. [PMID: 32618683 DOI: 10.1097/jcp.0000000000001245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This was a meta-analysis of double-blind, randomized controlled trials that examined the therapeutic effects and tolerability of adjunctive fluvoxamine versus placebo for schizophrenia. METHODS The Review Manager, Version 5.3, was used to analyze data. RESULTS Five double-blind randomized controlled trials (N = 284) covering 145 patients on adjunctive fluvoxamine and 139 patients on placebo were included in the analyses. Meta-analyses of total psychopathology, and negative, positive, and depressive symptoms did not show significant differences between the fluvoxamine and placebo groups. Two studies examined the effects of adjunctive fluvoxamine on cognitive functioning with mixed findings. Fluvoxamine was superior over placebo in lessening weight gain and metabolic abnormalities. Although fluvoxamine led to more discontinuation, no significant group differences were found regarding adverse drug reactions. CONCLUSIONS There was inconsistent evidence for the therapeutic effect of adjunctive fluvoxamine on cognitive functions and preliminary evidence for alleviating metabolic syndrome caused by clozapine. More studies are needed to explore further the effectiveness of adjunctive fluvoxamine for schizophrenia.
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