Antipsychotic Effects of Probiotics and Prebiotics on Patients With Schizophrenia

The study will recruit 210 schizophrenia patients who meet the criteria of DSM-4, and then randomized to 3 groups: control group, probiotics group and prebiotics group for a 14-weeks clinical trail and 12-weeks follow-up period. In addition to probiotics, prebiotic or maltodextrin interventions, in the meantime, all participants will also use one of the prescribed antipsychotics medications. Clinical efficacy and safety assessment will be done at baseline, clinical trail and follow-up period. The specific aims are to evaluate these tips: 1) psychotic syndrome; 2) cognition; 3) Gastrointestinal function; 4) inflammatory and metabolic related markers. Psychotic syndrome will be measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Cognitive function will be assessed by the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery. Gastrointestinal function will be assessed by gastrointestinal symptom assessment scale (GSRS). Biological samples also will be collected, and stored to research Intestinal inflammation, intestinal permeability, intestinal flora and other indicators.