title: Effects of antipsychotic treatment on cognition in healthy subjects.
abstract: Cognitive impairments can be observed in the majority of diseases with disturbed dopamine transmission. They are considered as core symptoms of schizophrenia, a disorder in which they appear to be particularly pronounced. Their neurobiological background is not yet sufficiently investigated, but dopaminergic systems are believed to play a crucial role. The aim of this single-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study was to examine the effects of subchronic antidopaminergic treatment on cognitive functions in healthy subjects. In total, 72 healthy volunteers, randomised into four groups, received one antidopaminergic substance (aripiprazole, haloperidol or reserpine) or placebo, respectively, for 7 days. A comprehensive neurocognitive assessment was conducted at baseline, 24 h after the last medication intake and 7 days later. In the Digit Symbol Substitution Test a distinct, statistically significant improvement was measured in the second session in the placebo but not in the medication group. A significant group*time interaction for reaction times in three subtests of the Test battery for Attentional Performance (TAP) was also found. Our findings indicate that modulation of dopaminergic systems affects primarily speed of information processing, attention and learning. Absence of effects on other functions, differing from previous reports, may be an expression of a sufficient counter-regulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. tveselinovic@ukaachen.de
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Veselinovic
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schorn
authors.forename: Ingo B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Vernaleken
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hiemke
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zernig
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gur
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gründer
mesh_terms: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects; D015363:Quinolones / Q000009:adverse effects; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012110:Reserpine / Q000009:adverse effects; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D010879:Piperazines; D015363:Quinolones; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D012110:Reserpine; D006220:Haloperidol