title: Effects of memantine added to risperidone on the symptoms of schizophrenia: A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
abstract: The "glutamate hypothesis of schizophrenia" has changed attitudes in the development of new medications. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of 20mg of memantine per day (as a NMDA receptor antagonist) added to risperidone among male patients with schizophrenia. In a randomized placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial, 46 adult male patients with schizophrenia were evaluated in both intervention and control groups at weeks 0, 6 and 12. The positive and negative symptoms scale and the mini mental status examination were used to assess positive, negative and cognitive symptoms and general psychopathology. The mean age of the patients was 44.8 for the intervention group and 45.3 for the control group, and the mean times since diagnosis were 23.5 and 25.7 years in the intervention and the control group, respectively. Positive and general psychopathologic symptoms showed no significant differences between the two groups at baseline or after treatment; while negative symptoms improved significantly in the intervention group at week 12. Cognitive function was also significantly improved in the intervention group at weeks 6 and 12. Memantine is supported as an effective adjunct treatment to improve negative and cognitive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: robabeh_mazinani@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Robabeh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mazinani
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Substance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: so.nejati@uswr.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Somayeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nejati
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khodaei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008559:Memantine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011599:Psychopathology; D018967:Risperidone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018967:Risperidone; D008559:Memantine
keywords: Cognitive function; Memantine; Positive and negative symptoms