Study of a Neurocognition Enhancing Agent in Patients With Schizophrenia

Aims: Schizophrenia is one of the most disabling disorders to afflict mankind. Despite the low lifetime prevalence of schizophrenia (1% world-wide), it has an enormous burden in both economic cost and human suffering. There is currently no cure for schizophrenia and its cause is not well understood. Patients with schizophrenia also suffer from negative symptoms (loss of drive, apathy, poverty of speech) and severe cognitive impairments especially with memory, attention, processing of information - the latter of which is most robustly correlated with their role functioning in the community. Addressing these impairments with effective interventions is thus critically important but at this present moment, there is no effective treatment. Recent emerging data from animal studies and a pilot study on small group of patients with schizophrenia suggest that neurosteroids such as pregnenolone may be relevant to schizophrenia pathophysiology and treatment of neurocognitive impairments. This study will be a 10-week randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial of the efficacy and safety of pregnenolone. Our hypothesis is patients with schizophrenia randomized to pregnenolone will demonstrate significant improvements in cognitive functioning and negative symptoms compared to patients receiving placebo. The primary aims of the study are to demonstrate the efficacy of pregnenolone in comparison to placebo in patients with schizophrenia which are assessed by changes (from baseline) in the composite score of the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), BACS and the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS). Changes in functionality will be assessed by the University of California Performance Based Skills Assessment (UPSA). Safety will be assessed with laboratory tests, well established scales for side effects as well as with a side-effects checklist. Objectives: To demonstrate the efficacy of pregnenolone in comparison to placebo in patients with schizophrenia and with cognitive impairment from randomization (Week 2) to Week 10 by using MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery, BACS, Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms, Performance Based Skills Assessment - Brief Version and Clinical Global Impression -Improvement (CGI-I).Additional safety data on pregnenolone in patients with schizophrenia will be provided. Methodology: The proposed study is a single-site, randomized, double blind placebo-controlled comparison of adjunctive pregnenolone and placebo. A total sample will consist of 120 clinically stable inpatients and outpatients with DSM IV schizophrenia, with 60 subjects randomized to each group. A best estimate diagnostic approach will be utilized, in which information from the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV will be supplemented by information from family informants, previous psychiatrists, and medical records to generate a diagnosis. There will be a 2 week, single-blind placebo lead-in evaluation phase, in which subjects will undergo baseline diagnostic and medical testing, including a physical examination, Electrocardiogram (ECG), Complete Blood Counts (CBC), complete metabolic panel, urine toxicology, and urinalysis. The study is designed to confirm the pilot study results (n=9 per group; total of 18 patients of 21 randomized who completed at least 4 weeks of treatment) in a larger clinical trial (n=60 per group, 120 patients total). Identical to our pilot study, patients will be seen for a total of 6 study visits (every two weeks). The placebo arm is essential as there are no standard therapies for cognitive defects as yet. Potential Benefits: While patients may not personally be helped by taking part in this study, their participation may lead to knowledge that will help better understand the illness. It may also lead to better treatment for cognitive deficits and negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Potential Risks: Obtaining blood can cause pain, bleeding, bruising, or swelling at the site of the needle prick. There is a risk that some questions on the questionnaires might upset the patients or cause psychological distress. There are no known severe risks that had been associated with taking pregnenolone.