U. Heresco-Levy, M. Ermilov, P. Lichtenberg
Jan 15, 2004
Citations
8
Influential Citations
209
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Biological Psychiatry
Abstract
Abstract Background Clinical trials indicate that glycine site agonists of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors may reduce negative and cognitive symptoms in treatment-resistant schizophrenia when used as adjuvants to conventional antipsychotics but possibly not to clozapine. In this study, we assessed whether high-dose glycine may also be therapeutically beneficial when added to olanzapine and risperidone treatment. Methods Seventeen olanzapine- or risperidone-treated schizophrenia patients participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-week crossover treatment trial with .8 g/kg/day glycine added to their ongoing antipsychotic medication. Clinical assessments were performed biweekly throughout the study. Clinical laboratory parameters and amino acid serum levels were monitored. Results Glycine treatment was well tolerated and resulted in a significant ( p r = .60) clinical response. Conclusions These findings indicate that the efficacy of olanzapine and risperidone may be augmented using high-dose adjuvant glycine treatment and suggest that these atypical antipsychotics may affect NMDA receptor-mediated neurotransmission differently than clozapine.