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NCT Number: NCT00523445

The Effects of Varenicline on Cognitive Function in Patients With Schizophrenia

The primary objective of this project is to examine the effects of varenicline treatment used concomitantly with antipsychotic medications, on cognitive dysfunction in people with schizophrenia. The secondary objective is to evaluate the effect of this combination therapy on smoking in people with schizophrenia. This study will be a randomized, double blind, parallel group, placebo controlled 8 weeks trial.

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Key information

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Primary location

Ahab Hospital, Busan, South Korea

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About this study

Cognitive deficits have been considered as a core symptom domain of schizophrenia. Amelioration of or improvement in cognitive impairments is becoming an important focus of clinical treatment development. Varenicline is a potent and selective alpha 4 beta 2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist that has been developed for smoking cessation. In animal studies, alpha 4 beta 2 receptor agonists significantly improve working memory and attention function. Subjects will be assigned in 1:1 ratio to receive varenicline or placebo respectively. Assessments will be done using several neuropsychologic tests, clinical rating scale including assessment of nicotine withdrawal scales.Varenicline has been found to be efficacious for smoking cessation in the general population and animal studies have demonstrated the cognitive benefits of this agent. However, no published work is available evaluating the cognitive effects in humans. Thus, patients may experience improvements in cognitive function and in people who are smokers, these people may be able to achieve abstinence in smoking. This will in turn improve long-term functional outcomes and health outcomes in people with schizophrenia. This is an exciting opportunity for discovery if indeed cognitive abilities could be improved with this adjunctive treatment.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Clinically stable patients with schizophrenia

Exclusion criteria

  • Refractory schizophrenia
  • Mental Retardation
  • Serious Medical illness

Treatment and study plan

Varenicline(Chantix)

Drug

The dose of antipsychotic drug will remain fixed throughout the study and the titration of varenicline will be as follows: varenicline 0.5 mg/d for days 1 to 3, 0.5 mg twice per day for days 4 to 7, then 1 mg twice per day through week 8.

Placebo

Drug

The dose of antipsychotic and concomitant medications remained fixed throughout the study and the titration of varenicline was as follows: Placebo will be supplied twice daily through week 8.

Primary outcomes

  1. To examine the effects of varenicline treatment used concomitantly with antipsychotic medications, on cognitive dysfunction in people with schizophrenia.

    Time frame: 8 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. To evaluate the effect of this combination therapy on smoking in people with schizophrenia.

    Time frame: 8 weeks

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Inje University

Other

Collaborators

  • Stanley Medical Research Institute

Registry information

Official study title

Varenicline, an Alpha 4 Beta 2 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Partial Agonist, on Cognitive Dysfunction in 120 Patients With Schizophrenia: a Randomized, Double Blind, 8 Weeks Trial

Important dates

Study start
2007
Primary completion
2009
Study completion
2009
First posted
Aug 31, 2007
Registry last updated
Aug 6, 2009

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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