Effects of Nicotine on Areas of Impaired and Preserved Functioning in Schizophrenia

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Total Enrollment

62 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2009-06-02

Study Completion Date

2013-06-11

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

Background:

* Some people with schizophrenia have problems with their working memory and paying attention for extended periods. These difficulties cannot be treated with antipsychotic medications or with many standard therapies.
* The prevalence of cigarette smoking among individuals with schizophrenia is about three times higher than in the general population. Research has shown that nicotine, the addictive component found in cigarettes, can help improve attentional and working memory performance. Researchers are interested in learning more about whether there may be an overlap in the cognitive functions beneficially affected by nicotine and areas of dysfunction in individuals with schizophrenia.

Objectives:

* To evaluate the potential of transdermal nicotine to alleviate cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, and to determine whether naturally maintained cigarette-smoking, in comparison, is an effective self-medication.
* To gather preliminary data on genetics that may account for individual and group differences in the performance effects of nicotine.

Eligibility:

\- Current smokers (25 or more cigarettes per week for at least 1 year) between 18 and 55 years of age who are either healthy volunteers or have been diagnosed with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder.

Design:

* The study will require five visits to the research center, with an initial screening visit, a training session, and three test sessions. Ideally, all visits will occur 1 week apart.
* Training session: Participants will receive training on the types of computerized cognitive and attentional behavior tests that will be given during the active portion of the study. Participants will also fill out questionnaires on nicotine use and other alcohol and drug use.
* Test sessions: Participants will be assigned to random groups and will complete tests that assess cognitive performance (a) while maintaining their usual smoking behavior, (b) after minimal deprivation (3.5 hours without smoking) while wearing a placebo patch, and (c) under the influence of a standard nicotine patch. The order of these sessions will be different for individual participants.
* Participants will provide blood samples throughout the research study for evaluation purposes.

Related Clinical Trials

Explore similar clinical trials based on study characteristics and research focus.

Influence of Nicotine on Cognitive Function in Schizophrenic Patients With and Without Comorbid Drug Dependence

NCT01037075

Schizophrenia Drug Abuse/Dependency

COMPLETED

Neural Inhibition as a Mechanism of Nicotine Dependence Among Persons With Schizophrenia

NCT00407277

Smoking Nicotine Dependence Schizophrenia +3 more

COMPLETED NA

The Effects of Nicotine on Cognition in Schizophrenia

NCT00383747

Schizophrenia

COMPLETED PHASE4

Cigarette Smoking in Smokers With and Without Schizophrenia

NCT04001114

Tobacco Dependence Schizophrenia

COMPLETED NA

Nicotine and Sensorimotor Replacement for Smoking in Smokers With Schizophrenia

NCT01213524

Tobacco Use Disorder Schizophrenia

COMPLETED PHASE2

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Objective:

1. To evaluate the potential of transdermal nicotine to alleviate distinct cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, and to determine whether naturally maintained cigarette-smoking, in comparison, is an effective self-medication.
2. To gather preliminary data on genotypes that may account for interindividual and group differences in the performance effects of nicotine.

Study population:

45 regular smokers with schizophrenia, 45 matched control smokers (greater than or equal to 5 cigarettes/day).

Design:

Double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject study, evaluating cognitive functions under conditions of normal smoking, transdermal nicotine (14 mg/day), and placebo (minimal tobacco deprivation).

Outcome measures:

Measures of cognitive task performance, measures of subjective state, plasma concentrations of nicotine and metabolites, and genotype with regards to genes coding for nicotinic receptor subunits, MAO, and COMT.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Nicotine Dependence Schizophrenia

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Study Time Perspective

OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

All participants:

1. Age 18 through 55. The aim is to minimize population inhomogeneity related to cognitive decline due to normal aging.
2. Smoker of 5 or more cigarettes, cigarillos or cigars per day, on 5 or more days/week, for at least the last 12 months
3. Normal or corrected to normal visual acuity (at least 20/100).

1. DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
2. Ability to give written informed consent
3. Four weeks of stable pharmacological treatment (same psychiatric medication at same dose)

Exclusion Criteria

All participants:

1. History of myocardial infarction, heart failure, angina, stroke or severe arrhythmias, EKG abnormalities as specified under Screening methods
2. Uncontrolled high blood pressure (resting systolic above 150 or diastolic above 90 mm Hg)
3. Neurological conditions such as stroke, seizures, dementia or organic brain syndrome
4. Any condition likely to impair cognitive function such as mental retardation, attention deficit disorder or severe pharmacological sedation
5. Treatment for tobacco dependence in the last four months
6. Alcohol or substance abuse or dependence other than nicotine within the last 12 months
7. Pregnancy, verified by urine pregnancy test for females at first visit and in the beginning of each of the two patch administration sessions
8. Lactating

Healthy controls, additional exclusion criterion:
9. Current psychiatric Axis I disorder or Axis II schizophrenia spectrum disorder, verified by Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID)

Participants with mental illness, additional exclusion criterion:
10. Treated with benztropine (a nicotinic and muscarinic antagonist) or with an acetylcholine esterase inhibitor currently or within the last four weeks

Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

55 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes