Placebo-controlled trial of D-cycloserine added to conventional neuroleptics, olanzapine, or risperidone in schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
The authors investigated the clinical effects of D-cycloserine when added to treatment with conventional neuroleptics, olanzapine, or risperidone for treatment-resistant schizophrenia.


METHODS
Twenty-four patients participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-week crossover trial with D-cycloserine, 50 mg/day, added to their fixed dose of antipsychotic medication. Clinical ratings were performed every 2 weeks.


RESULTS
D-Cycloserine treatment was well tolerated and resulted in a significant reduction in negative symptoms (mean=15%). The degree of improvement did not differ between patients treated with conventional neuroleptics and those treated with olanzapine or risperidone.


CONCLUSIONS
These data support the efficacy of the addition of 50 mg/day of D-cycloserine to treatment with conventional neuroleptics and suggest that therapeutic benefits may also be attained when D-cycloserine is added to olanzapine or risperidone.
Heresco-Levy
Uriel
U
Ezrath Nashim-Herzog Memorial Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel. heresco@md2.huji.ac.il
Ermilov
Marina
M
Shimoni
Jonathan
J
Shapira
Baruch
B
Silipo
Gail
G
Javitt
Daniel C
DC
D000328:Adult; D000904:Antibiotics, Antitubercular / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003523:Cycloserine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010890:Pirenzepine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015990:Placebo Effect; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000904:Antibiotics, Antitubercular; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010919:Placebos; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D010890:Pirenzepine; D003523:Cycloserine; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine