title: Rapid improvement of acute schizophrenia symptoms after intravenous sodium nitroprusside: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The treatment of schizophrenia remains a challenge, and the currently available antipsychotic drugs are slow acting and produce a number of adverse effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effectiveness and safety of a single intravenous administration of sodium nitroprusside (0.5 μg/kg/min for 4 hours) on the positive, negative, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial performed from March 9, 2007, to March 12, 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  University teaching hospital in São Paulo, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty inpatients aged 19 to 40 years with a diagnosis of schizophrenia who were in the first 5 years of the disease who are taking antipsychotics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sodium nitroprusside administration.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 18-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the negative subscale of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the infusion of sodium nitroprusside, a rapid (within 4 hours) improvement of symptoms was observed. The placebo and experimental groups had significant differences in the 18-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale total score and subscale scores, which persisted for 4 weeks after infusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results clearly show a therapeutic effect of sodium nitroprusside. If this drug is approved for routine clinical use in patients with schizophrenia, this discovery will be an important advance in the pharmacologic treatment of this devastating disorder.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01548612.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience and Behavior Department, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jaime E C
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hallak
authors.forename: Joao Paulo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Maia-de-Oliveira
authors.forename: Joao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abrao
authors.forename: Paulo R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Evora
authors.forename: Antonio W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Zuardi
authors.forename: Jose A S
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Crippa
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Belmonte-de-Abreu
authors.forename: Glen B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Serdar M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Dursun
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010919:Placebos; D009599:Nitroprusside