Pregnenolone in the Management of Schizophrenia Patients

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Pregnenolone is a neurosteroid and possesses intrinsic behavioral and brain effects in animals, affecting the GABA(A) and other receptors. Pregnenolone is serves as the precursor for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate ester (DHEAS). There is evidence of efficacy of DHEA augmentation in schizophrenia, we therefore sought to examine the efficacy of augmentation of antipsychotic treatment of schizophrenia patients with pregnenolone. It is hypothesized that the combined effect of antipsychotic agents and pregnenolone would be beneficial in the treatment of negative,depressive, and cognitive symptoms.

Detailed Description
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Either pregnenolone (30 mg/d or 200 mg/d), DHEA (400 mg/d)or placebo will be added to regular treatment for 8 weeks. Subjects will be assessed at baseline and after 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of treatment. An extensive battery of research instruments will be used for assessment of the following domains of interest: psychopathology, insight, side effects, and cognitive functions. Plasma pregnenolone, DHEA(S), cortisol and other relevant steroids will be assayed at baseline, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of treatment. Efficacy and safety of augmentation of antipsychotic treatment with pregnenolone will be analyzed.

Official Title
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Efficacy and Safety of Pregnenolone Augmentation in the Management of Schizophrenia Patients: a Randomised Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Schizophrenia

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Pregnenolone


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder Ability and willingness to sign informed consent for participation in the study Exclusion Criteria: Evidence of organic brain damage, mental retardation, alcohol or drug abuse Prostate nodules or cancer. Moderate symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy such as hesitancy, urgency, frequent voiding and feeling of incomplete voiding. History of ischemic cardiac disease. Renal disease. Hepatic dysfunction. Women with a history of carcinoma of the breast, or any women with a family history of the following: premenopausal breast cancer or bilateral breast cancer in a first degree relative; multiple family members (greater than three relatives) with postmenopausal breast cancer. Women with a history of uterine cancer. Patients with a known hypersensitivity to androgens. Pregnant women.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 20 Years
Maximum Age: 55 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Drug: Pregnenolone|nan|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The computerized Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). |  |  | 
| The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. |  |  | 
| The Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms. |  |  | 
| The Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia. |  |  | 
| The Hamilton Scale for Anxiety. |  |  | 
| Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale. |  |  | 
| Barnes Akathisia Scale. |  |  | 
| Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale. |  |  | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Scale to assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder (SUMD, Amador, 1999). |  |  | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Schizophrenia, Pregnenolone, Neurosteroids