Guanfacine treatment of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia.
Norepinephrine plays a significant role in the working memory functions of the prefrontal cortex by its actions at alpha-2a noradrenergic receptors. Guanfacine has demonstrated efficacy in reversing working memory deficits in non-human primate. In the present study the effect of guanfacine adjunctive treatment to neuroleptics on the cognitive performance of schizophrenic patients was investigated in a four week, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel design trial. The primary analyses revealed no significant differences between guanfacine and placebo treatment; however, exploratory non-parametric statistics revealed some significant and some trend differences between guanfacine and placebo on spatial working memory test performance and CPT reaction time in those subjects treated with atypical neuroleptics.
Friedman
J I
JI
Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA. jfriedma@mail.idt.net
Adler
D N
DN
Temporini
H D
HD
Kemether
E
E
Harvey
P D
PD
White
L
L
Parrella
M
M
Davis
K L
KL
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D016316:Guanfacine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D016316:Guanfacine; D018967:Risperidone