Double-blind donepezil–placebo crossover augmentation study of atypical antipsychotics in chronic, stable schizophrenia: A pilot study

• Published in: Schizophrenia research 2007-07, Vol.93 (1), p.131-135
• Main Authors: Risch, S. Craig, Horner, Michael D, McGurk, Susan R, Palecko, Simmy, Markowitz, John S, Nahas, Ziad, DeVane, C. Lindsay
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Antipsychotic Agents - administration & dosage; Antipsychotic Agents - adverse effects; Benzodiazepines - administration & dosage; Benzodiazepines - adverse effects; Biological and medical sciences; Cholinesterase Inhibitors; Cholinesterase Inhibitors - administration & dosage; Cholinesterase Inhibitors - adverse effects; Clozapine - administration & dosage; Clozapine - adverse effects; Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Indans - administration & dosage; Indans - adverse effects; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neuropharmacology; Nootropic Agents - administration & dosage; Nootropic Agents - adverse effects; Pharmacological Augmentation; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Piperidines - administration & dosage; Piperidines - adverse effects; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychiatry; Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer..., (alzheimer disease); Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology; Psychoses; Psychotic Disorders - diagnosis; Psychotic Disorders - drug therapy; Psychotic Disorders - psychology; Risperidone - administration & dosage; Risperidone - adverse effects; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenia - diagnosis; Schizophrenia - drug therapy; Schizophrenic Psychology; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0920-9964; 1573-2509
• DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2007.01.001

Abstract Thirteen outpatients with chronic but stable schizophrenia received donepezil and placebo augmentation of their maintenance antipsychotic medication regimen. Each subject received in a randomized, counterbalanced order 1) donepezil 5 mg for 6 weeks then donepezil 10 mg for six weeks and 2) placebo donepezil for 12 weeks. Serial ratings of the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) [Kay, S.R., Fiszbein, A., Opler, L.A., 1987. The positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) for schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin 13(2): 261–276] were performed by a trained rater blind to the donepezil order and condition: at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks. On donepezil as compared to baseline or placebo, there was a significant improvement in PANSS negative scores ( p = .018, n = 13). These results are discussed with respect to other studies using cholinesterase inhibitors as an augmentation strategy in schizophrenia.