title: May non-antipsychotic drugs improve cognition of schizophrenia patients?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia patients is associated with poor outcome and it represents one of main challenges of pharmacological treatment. Unfortunately, second-generation antipsychotics have not yielded the expected results in the improvement of these symptoms.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present review paper is to summarize and discuss the available data about the efficacy of non-antipsychotic drugs in the treatment of cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A research in the main database sources has been performed to obtain a comprehensive overview. Studies with different methodologies (open and double-blinded) have been included, while studies with schizoaffective patients have been excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several non-antipsychotic compounds have been tested with the purpose to improve cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia patients, but no molecule has a significant pro-cognitive activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Available data do not support the superiority of non-antipsychotic drugs vs. placebo for cognitive enhancement in schizophrenia. Preliminary results indicate mirtazapine, mianserine, lamotrigine, tandospirone, cyproheptadine, valacyclovir and omega-3 fatty acids as the most promising compounds, however no definitive conclusions can be drawn in the light of small sample size studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Altamura
mesh_terms: D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
chemical_list: D018697:Nootropic Agents