Sodium Nitroprusside in Early Course Schizophrenia
Status:
Not yet recruiting
Trial end date:
2023-08-31
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Peripheral inflammation and microvascular dysfunction are central to the pathophysiology of
schizophrenia (SZ). Retinal imaging allows for the accurate quantitative assessment of the
condition of retinal microvessels, and early studies implicate microvascular dysfunction in
SZ, but the specific pathophysiological mechanisms underlying greater length, density,
capillary network and diameter are not yet entirely understood. Anti-inflammatory drug trials
in SZ suggest that Early Course Schizophrenia (ECS) individuals with elevated peripheral
inflammation show the greatest benefit to adjunctive anti inflammatory treatments. Also,
there is a growing interest in the use of Sodium Nitroprusside (SNP) in SZ but further
studies are needed as results are inconsistent. This study will determine the effectiveness
of SNP on psychosis symptoms, cognition, and retinal measures in symptomatic ECS.