Course of recovery of cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia: a randomised double-blind study comparing sertindole and haloperidol.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the impact of sertindole and haloperidol on cognitive function in patients suffering from schizophrenia.


METHODS
In a 12 week trial, of the 40 patients randomised to treatment, 34 (17 sertindole and 17 haloperidol) were included in the analysis set. Cognitive sub-processes were investigated with the Reaction Time Decomposition (RTD) method and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), at baseline, Week 4 and Week 12.


RESULTS
In executive function, i.e. set shifting tasks, sertindole reversed cognitive deficits significantly more than haloperidol. It was demonstrated that this atypical drug improved cognitive processing independently of motor function. Patients receiving sertindole markedly improved on the RTD task at Week 4 and continued to improve (although at a slower rate) at Week 12, those patients receiving haloperidol showed marked impairment at Week 4 with partial recovery by Week 12.


CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrated two distinct processes of action on cognition between sertindole and haloperidol and the marked beneficial effects of sertindole, particularly in parameters that are regarded as schizophrenia-related cognitive disturbances.
Gallhofer
B
B
Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory and Department of Psychiatry, Centre for Psychiatry, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany. Bernd.Gallhofer@psychiat.med.uni-giessen.de
Jaanson
P
P
Mittoux
A
A
Tanghøj
P
P
Lis
S
S
Krieger
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007211:Indoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D007093:Imidazoles; D007211:Indoles; C066304:sertindole; D006220:Haloperidol