Galantamine improves cognition in schizophrenic patients stabilized on risperidone.
BACKGROUND
Cognition in schizophrenia is impaired in a variety of cognitive domains. Galantamine, a cholinesterase inhibitor with putative nicotinic agonist-like effects, improves cognition in Alzheimer's patients.


METHODS
Sixteen schizophrenic or schizoaffective patients stabilized on risperidone were administered galantamine (n=8) or placebo (n=8) in a randomized, double-blind trial. The Repeatable Battery for Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) assessed changes in cognitive performance over an eight-week treatment interval.


RESULTS
Clinical symptoms improved in both groups during the trial with no evidence that galantamine exacerbated extrapyramidal symptoms. Patients treated with galantamine experienced an overall improvement in cognitive performance (RBANS Total scale score; galantamine = 12.1 +/- 12.8 SD, placebo = .5 +/- 13.5, t = 2.32, p < .04). Confidence intervals suggest that RBANS Attention and Delayed Memory subscale performance was robustly improved in galantamine patients by approximately one standard deviation, effectively normalizing cognitive performance in these domains.


CONCLUSIONS
Adjunctive treatment with galantamine improves memory and attention in patients with schizophrenia who are stabilized on risperidone, providing the opportunity to improve functional outcome in these patients.
Schubert
Max H
MH
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Neuropsychiatry Research Program, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center College of Medicine, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, Texas, USA.
Young
Keith A
KA
Hicks
Paul B
PB
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005702:Galantamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D005702:Galantamine; D018967:Risperidone