title: The effects of pioglitazone adjuvant therapy on negative symptoms of patients with chronic schizophrenia: a double-blind and placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The evident central role of inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic derangement in pathophysiology of negative symptoms of schizophrenia has opened new insights into probable pharmacological options for these symptoms. Pioglitazone is an antidiabetic agent with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of pioglitazone as an adjunct to risperidone for reduction of negative symptoms in schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 40 patients with chronic schizophrenia and a minimum score of 20 on the negative subscale of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were randomly allocated to receive risperidone plus either pioglitazone (30 mg/day) or placebo for 8 weeks. Patients' symptoms and adverse events were rated at baseline and weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8. The difference between the two groups in decline of PANSS negative subscale scores was considered as the primary outcome of this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the study endpoint, patients in the pioglitazone group showed significantly more improvement in PANSS negative subscale scores (p < 0.001) as well as PANSS total scores (p = 0.01) compared with the placebo group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest the probable efficacy of pioglitazone as an augmentation therapy in reducing the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
authors: Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Negar
authors: N
authors: Iranpour
authors: Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Atefeh
authors: A
authors: Zandifar
authors: Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Mehdi
authors: M
authors: Farokhnia
authors: Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Amirhossein
authors: A
authors: Goguol
authors: Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Habibeh
authors: H
authors: Yekehtaz
authors: Razi Hospital, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Mohammad-Reza
authors: MR
authors: Khodaie-Ardakani
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
authors: Bahman
authors: B
authors: Salehi
authors: Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Sophia
authors: S
authors: Esalatmanesh
authors: Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Atefeh
authors: A
authors: Zeionoddini
authors: Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Payam
authors: P
authors: Mohammadinejad
authors: Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Arefeh
authors: A
authors: Zeinoddini
authors: Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Shahin
authors: S
authors: Akhondzadeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D000077205:Pioglitazone; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D018967:Risperidone; D000077205:Pioglitazone
keywords: clinical trial; negative symptoms; pioglitazone; schizophrenia; thiazolidinedione