Add-on MEmaNtine to Dopamine Antagonism to Improve Negative Symptoms at First Psychosis
Status:
Recruiting
Trial end date:
2024-12-31
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Antipsychotics affects the brain's dopamine system, and the drugs reduce delusions,
hallucinations, and disorganized thinking, which are cardinal symptoms of psychotic
disorders. However, negative symptoms e.g. anhedonia, avolition, and social withdrawal, as
well as cognitive deficits, are not sufficiently treated.
Memantine is used to treat Alzheimer's disease and affects the brain's glutamate system.
AMEND is a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial (RCT) testing
effects of add-on memantine to initial antipsychotic treatment in never-treated patients with
first-episode psychosis.
The main aim is to reduce negative symptoms. Secondary outcomes are cognition, psychotic
symptoms, side effects. Glutamate levels in the brain will be measured before and after 12
weeks using an ultra-high field strength (7 Tesla) magnetic resonance scanner.
AMEND will apply rational drug repurposing to optimize treatment of patients experiencing
their first psychotic episode.
Phase:
Phase 1
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Bjorn H. Ebdrup
Collaborators:
Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance Lundbeck Foundation Novo Nordisk A/S University of Copenhagen