Valacyclovir Augmentation for Cognitive and Functional Remediation in Schizophrenia

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2016-09-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

The effects of Valacyclovir (VAV) augmentation or placebo (PLA) as adjuncts to conventional antipsychotic drug treatment will be evaluated among patients with schizophrenia who have been exposed to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Hypothesis: Valacyclovir (VAV) augmentation improves (a) cognitive and (b) overall function among Herpes Simples Virus 1 (HSV-1) exposed early course schizophrenia patients.

• Phase: Phase 4
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh
• Collaborators: Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital; Stanley Medical Research Institute
• Treatments: Acyclovir; Valacyclovir

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Written informed consent.

• Both genders, ages 18-50 years

• Schizophrenia / schizoaffective disorder (DSM IV).

• Stable dose of antipsychotic for > 1 month, continued throughout the study.

• Score 4 or more on one or more items of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.

• Exposed to HSV-1: serum antibody assays.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Substance abuse in the past month/dependence past 6 months.

• History / current medical /neurological illnesses e.g., epilepsy.

• Pregnancy.

• History of immune disorders, HIV infection, or receiving immune-suppressants.

• Receiving regular antiviral therapy.

• History of hypersensitivity to Valacyclovir.

• Mental retardation as defined in DSM IV.