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The Effect of Nitric Oxide on Spatial Working Memory in Patients With Schizophrenia - Pilot Study

NCT02176044 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: PHASE1 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 21

Last updated 2016-03-09

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Spatial working memory (ability to remember where objects are in space) is impaired in patients with schizophrenia. It is thought that this impairment occurs due to problems with the chemical messenger (neurotransmitter), glutamate, and the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor, particularly in the hippocampal brain region. NMDA receptor activation leads to increases in the release of the second messenger Nitric Oxide. Impaired NMDA receptor function would therefore be predicted to lead to reductions in Nitric Oxide production. Recent work suggests that a drug, sodium nitroprusside, which releases nitric oxide, enhances some aspects of cognition in schizophrenia (specifically related to negative symptoms). In this study, the investigators will test the hypothesis that sodium nitroprusside improves spatial working memory in patients with schizophrenia. 15 patients will receive sodium nitroprusside, and 15 will receive a nonactive compound (placebo). Their performance on a spatial working memory task will be tested before and after administration of sodium nitroprusside or placebo.

Conditions

Interventions

DRUG

Sodium Nitroprusside infusion

OTHER

Placebo

Sponsors & Collaborators

Principal Investigators

  • James Stone, MBBS PhD · King's College London

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
60 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2014-08-31
Primary Completion
2016-02-29
Completion
2016-02-29

Countries

  • United Kingdom

Study Locations

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Diseases
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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT02176044 on ClinicalTrials.gov