A Clinical Trial to Examine Effects of Atomoxetine in the Treatment of Negative Symptoms in Patients With Schizophrenia

This study proposes to examine the effect of Atomoxetine (Strattera), a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor on Negative Symptoms and Quality of Life and its safety when used in conjunction with an atypical antipsychotic agent in remitted community dwelling subjects with Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective disorder. Atomoxetine was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children and adults. All subjects will receive various psychometric assessments at 2-week intervals for a period of 26 weeks. It is hypothesized that subjects treated with Atomoxetine in this 26 week random assignment, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, will have a significantly greater improvement in quality of life and social functioning.

Inclusion criteria

• Male or female.
• Ages 18-65 years inclusive.
• No psychiatric hospitalization in the past 30 days.
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) diagnosis of schizophrenia.
• Total Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) score of 80 or less on entry.
• Currently receiving a stable dose of antipsychotic(s) for at least 30 days prior to randomization.
• Receiving a stable dose of psychotropic medication for at least 30 days
• Female patients of childbearing age must be using an acceptable method of birth control.
• A minimum score of 10 on five global ratings of the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) with minimum score of at least 3 on two of the global items and a mean score of 4 or less for General Life Satisfaction on the Lehman's quality of life (QOL) interview.

Exclusion criteria

• Inability to give informed consent.
• Current alcohol or substance abuse or dependence within the last 6 months.
• History of narrow angle glaucoma or organic brain disease.
• Female patient of childbearing potential without adequate contraception.
• Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (a fasting blood glucose of >126mg/dL), uncontrolled hypertension (a systolic of >160mm/hg and a diastolic of >100mm/hg) or orthostatic hypotension, assessed on a case by case basis, liver disease (AST of > 40 u/L, and ALT of > 56 u/L), cerebrovascular disorder or myocardial infarction diagnosed 3 months prior to study entry.
• Concurrently receiving treatment with venlafaxine (Effexor), a MAO inhibitor such as Nardil (phenelzine), or Parnate (tranylcypromine), cytochrome p450 2d6 inhibitors such as fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), paroxetine (Paxil), or quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinidex Extentabs), albuterol (Ventolin, Proventil, Combivent, AccuNeb, Serevent) and all psychostimulants (dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate) currently or within the last 2 weeks.