Neurotransmitters in Treatment Resistant Schizophrenia Patients With add-on Sodium Benzoate (NCT06340789) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingPhase 2
Neurotransmitters in Treatment Resistant Schizophrenia Patients With add-on Sodium Benzoate
Taiwan90 participantsStarted 2021-11-18
Plain-language summary
Although antipsychotic is effective for schizophrenia, however, still certain proportion of patients were not responsive to treatment. Treatment resistant schizophrenia (TRS) is accompanied by function decline and heavy burden. In recent decades, the biological mechanism of schizophrenia extended from dopamine theory to the role of glutamate system. This shift could be an alternative pathway to developing the treatment of TRS. Sodium benzoate (SB) could be an option as a glutamatergic agent for the patients with TRS. However, most evidence of SB is for treating patients with schizophrenia and other mental disorders but the evidence for treating patients with TRS is scarce. To predict the treatment response of SB will be an urgent topic in the future. Little is known about the precise medicine for treating patients with TRS. The present project will extend our pilot randomized clinical trial on SB for TRS. A total of 90 patients with TRS will be enrolled from three centers and will be assigned to 8 weeks of treatment with SB or placebo (2:1). A comprehensive battery of potential markers will be employed, including 1H- magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), brain functional connectivity, genotyping, immune biomarkers, cognitive function, and clinical characteristics. The efficacy of SB on TRS will be confirmed in this project. Predictors for treatment response will be identified. Artificial intelligence algorithms will be used for probing the feasibility of precision medicine.
Who can participate
Age range
20 Years – 55 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Fulfil the DSM5 criteria for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
. Research criteria for treatment resistance: little or no symptomatic response to multiple (at least two) antipsychotic treatment of an adequate duration (at least 6 weeks) and adequate doses (equivalent to at least 600 milliequivalent (meq)/day of chlorpromazine)
. 6 month period without remission (i.e. ≥4 item-score for the positive symptoms on PANSS scale , especially delusional thoughts, conceptual disorganisation, excitements, grandiosity, hallucinatory behaviour, excitement, persecution, and hostility)
. The persistence of illness was defined as a score of ≥4 (moderately ill) on the severity of illness subscale of the Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI-S), and a lack of stable period of good social occupational function.
Exclusion criteria
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
. Current or previous diagnosis of concurrent DSM-5 disorder due to active medical problems, known neurological disease, or a contraindication to MRI scanning
. Current diagnosis of substance-related disorder
. Any acute or chronic medical condition
. History of head trauma or neurological diseases.