Ziprasidone-induced cognitive enhancement in schizophrenia: specificity or pseudospecificity?
OBJECTIVE
Ziprasidone may improve cognition in schizophrenia; however, this could be related to clinical symptom improvement, reflecting "pseudospecificity". We tested the hypothesis that ziprasidone improves cognition in the absence of clinical improvement.


METHODS
We conducted a 12-week, open-label study of ziprasidone in 10 schizophrenia patients who met non-response criteria (<20% reduction in BPRS scores over 12 weeks). We conducted comprehensive cognitive testing and assessed change from baseline to end of study.


RESULTS
We detected significant improvement on three measures of episodic memory (p<0.01) in these clinically non-responsive patients. Trend-level improvements were noted on tests involving processing speed and executive function.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that ziprasidone has cognitive benefits unrelated to an influence on other disease parameters.
Malhotra
Anil K
AK
Division of Psychiatry Research, The Zucker Hillside Hospital, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Glen Oaks, NY 11004, and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, United States. Malhotra@lij.edu
Burdick
Katherine E
KE
Razi
Kamran
K
Bates
John A
JA
Sanders
Michael
M
Kane
John M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010879:Piperazines; D013844:Thiazoles; C092292:ziprasidone