Conditions: Schizophrenia
Keywords: Schizophrenia working memory N-Acetylcysteine
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Enrollment: 28
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of the amino acid supplement N-Acetylcysteine versus placebo on working memory and other cognitive functions in persons with a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Detailed description:
Working memory impairment in Schizophrenia is produced by deficiencies of feedback inhibition of glutamate release, due to low cysteine-glutamate antiporter activity. Because of this mechanism, we are interested in whether acute administration of N-Acetylcysteine will improve performance of patients with schizophrenia on a battery of cognitive tasks utilized to test working memory and other cognitive domains, versus placebo. This pilot study will utilize a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, crossover design.

Arms:
arm 1: Group A first receives the commercially available sustained release form of N-acetylcysteine, then the matching placebo capsules both administered at 1200mg twice a day for 3 full days, along with 1200mg once on the evening prior to and once on the morning following the 3 days (8 total doses over 5 days). arm 2: Group B first receives the placebo and then receives a commercially available sustained release form of N-Acetylcysteine. In each arm, the capsules are both administered at 1200mg twice a day for 3 full days, along with 1200mg once on the evening prior to and once on the morning following the 3 days (8 total doses over 5 days).

Interventions: intervention 1: N-Acetylcysteine intervention 2: Placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: N-acetylcysteine 1200mg bid for 3 days intervention 2: Placebo

Protocol document: