Add-on MEmaNtine to Dopamine Modulation to Improve Negative Symptoms at First Psychosis

Summary

Antipsychotics affects the brain's dopamine system, and the drugs reduce delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking, which are cardinal symptoms of psychotic disorders. However, negative symptoms e.g. anhedonia, avolition, and social withdrawal, as well as cognitive deficits, are not sufficiently treated. Memantine is used to treat Alzheimer's disease and affects the brain's glutamate system. AMEND is a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial (RCT) testing effects of add-on memantine to initial antipsychotic treatment in never-treated patients with first-episode psychosis. The main aim is to reduce negative symptoms. Secondary outcomes are cognition, psychotic symptoms, side effects. Glutamate levels in the brain will be measured before and after 12 weeks using an ultra-high field strength (7 Tesla) magnetic resonance scanner. AMEND will apply rational drug repurposing to optimize treatment of patients experiencing their first psychotic episode.

Timeline

Start

2021-05-26

Primary completion

2025-07-01

Completion

2026-12-31

Publications

• Sandstrom KO, Baltzersen OB, Marsman A, Lemvigh CK, Boer VO, Bojesen KB, Nielsen MO, Lundell H, Sulaiman DK, Sorensen ME, Fagerlund B, Lahti AC, Syeda WT, Pantelis C, Petersen ET, Glenthoj BY, Siebner HR, Ebdrup BH. Add-On MEmaNtine to Dopamine Antagonism to Improve Negative Symptoms at First Psychosis- the AMEND Trial Protocol. Front Psychiatry. 2022 May 20;13:889572. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.889572. eCollection 2022.

Drugs

Indications