Pilot Study of Atomoxetine To Enhance COgnition In Patients With Schizophrenia

Summary

Relationships between altered prefrontal cortical dopamine, norepinephrine and some cognitive impairments of schizophrenia supports and approach for pharmacological remediation of cognitive symptoms through manipulations of prefrontal cortical dopamine and norepinephrine. Atomoxetine, a selective norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor, produces a widespread increase in brain norepinephrine and a secondary and selective increase in prefrontal dopamine. Given this, we are evaluating atomoxetine's cognitive effects in a pilot placebo controlled trial in patients with schizophrenia. Moreover, an fMRI investigation was undertaken to assess the neural mechanisms underlying the cognitive effects of atomoxetine.

Timeline

Start

2005-01

Primary completion

2007-04

Completion

2007-06

Publications

• Background Bymaster FP, Katner JS, Nelson DL, Hemrick-Luecke SK, Threlkeld PG, Heiligenstein JH, Morin SM, Gehlert DR, Perry KW. Atomoxetine increases extracellular levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in prefrontal cortex of rat: a potential mechanism for efficacy in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2002 Nov;27(5):699-711. doi: 10.1016/S0893-133X(02)00346-9.

Drugs

Indications