A review of its effects in schizophrenia suggests that modafinil facilitates cognitive functions , with pro-mnemonic effects and problem solving improvements .
The systematic review on the neurochemical modulation of the modafinil suggests that its mnemonic enhancing properties might be the result of glutamatergic and dopaminergic increased neuronal activation in the hippocampus and in the prefrontal cortex respectively .
Other neurotransmitters were also activated by modafinil in various limbic brain areas , suggesting that the drug acts on these brain regions to influence emotional responses .
Modafinil is a central nervous system wake promoting agent used for the treatment of excessive daytime sleeping .
Its vigilance promoting properties and low abuse potential has intrigued the scientific community and has led to use it as a cognitive enhancer , before its neural functions were understood .
Here , we review the effects of modafinil in human cognition and emotion and its specific actions on symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and whether these are consistently effective throughout the literature .
We also performed a systematic review on the effects of modafinil on neurotransmitter signalling in different areas of the brain in order to better underst and the neuromechanisms of its cognitive and emotional enhancing properties .
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of modafinil for negative symptoms in schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE Negative symptoms are core features of schizophrenia that are functionally debilitating , associated with poor outcomes , and resistant to existing pharmacotherapies . We performed a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled study of modafinil , a medication approved for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness , to explore its efficacy as an adjunctive therapy for negative symptoms in schizophrenia . METHOD Twenty subjects with DSM-IV schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were r and omly assigned to double-blind treatment with modafinil or placebo for 8 weeks . The study ran from March 2002 through March 2006 . Outcome measures included the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms ( SANS ) , Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale ( BPRS ) , Clinical Global Impressions ( CGI ) scale , Quality of Life Interview , neurocognitive assessment s ( California Verbal Learning Test , De grade d Performance-Continuous Performance Test , Trail-Making Test B ) , and somatic measures ( sleep , weight , side effects ) . RESULTS Modafinil treatment was associated with a greater rate ( CGI-Improvement [ CGI-I ] score < or = 3 , 7/10 vs. 1/10 ) and degree ( mean CGI-I score , 3.2 vs. 4.1 ) of global improvement at study endpoint compared with placebo . However , modafinil did not significantly improve global negative symptoms as measured by the total SANS or SANS individual global items . Modafinil did not significantly worsen psycho-pathology ( according to the BPRS ) , compared with placebo , and was well tolerated . CONCLUSIONS Although no effect on negative symptoms was found , adjunctive therapy with modafinil may result in global improvements in patients with schizophrenia who have prominent negative symptoms
A review of its effects in schizophrenia suggests that modafinil facilitates cognitive functions , with pro-mnemonic effects and problem solving improvements .
The systematic review on the neurochemical modulation of the modafinil suggests that its mnemonic enhancing properties might be the result of glutamatergic and dopaminergic increased neuronal activation in the hippocampus and in the prefrontal cortex respectively .
Other neurotransmitters were also activated by modafinil in various limbic brain areas , suggesting that the drug acts on these brain regions to influence emotional responses .
Modafinil is a central nervous system wake promoting agent used for the treatment of excessive daytime sleeping .
Its vigilance promoting properties and low abuse potential has intrigued the scientific community and has led to use it as a cognitive enhancer , before its neural functions were understood .
Here , we review the effects of modafinil in human cognition and emotion and its specific actions on symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and whether these are consistently effective throughout the literature .
We also performed a systematic review on the effects of modafinil on neurotransmitter signalling in different areas of the brain in order to better underst and the neuromechanisms of its cognitive and emotional enhancing properties .