This is an exploratory study in Egypt that will combine a treatment trial among early course schizophrenia (ECSZ) patients with key analyses suggested by rodent studies. Specifically, the study will test the provocative results from animal studies indicating an impact of Toxoplasma Gondii (TOX) exposure on novelty seeking. The study will also test whether exposure to TOX is associated with other cognitive and behavioral changes, as well as changes in overall social function. We will also explore the relative efficacy of Sodium Valproate (Depakote, DEP) in improving clinical and overall social function among TOX exposed and unexposed patients. Hypotheses 1. At baseline, TOX exposure is associated with increased novelty seeking, clinical severity, and impaired cognitive and overall social function in patients with SZ. 2. Adjunctive DEP treatment improves clinical symptoms, cognitive and social function in SZ, particularly among TOX exposed SZ patients. 3. Exploratory hypothesis: adjunctive DEP reduces serological indices of TOX infection (VIP and TH levels).
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Clinical Severity
Timeframe: Clinical severity will be assessed during week 20 of the study.
Cognitive Domains assessed via the Arabic version of the Penn CNB
Timeframe: Cognitive domains wil be measured in week 16 of the study
Social Function assessed via the Quality of Life Scale
Timeframe: Social functioing will be assessed during week during week 16.
Cognitive domains assessed via Trails Making Test
Timeframe: Cognitive domains will be assessed in week 16 of the study
Social Function -assessed via the GAF scale
Timeframe: Social functioning will be assessed during week 16
Social Functioning assessed via the Short Form
Timeframe: Social functioning will be assessed during week 16