Efficacy of Pregnenolone in Patients With Schizophrenia

Launched by WEILL MEDICAL COLLEGE OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY · Feb 13, 2008

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

Pregnenolone is a steroid health supplement which is readily available in health food stores. We are using it in this study at higher doses than you would normally take as a health supplement because preliminary studies have indicated that negative symptoms improve and certain aspects of cognition improve at these doses. We do not require you to stop your existing treatment in order to enter the study. After four months we will test your symptoms and cognition and ask if you would like to continue taking pregnenolone, at no cost, in a follow-up study designed to determine the long-term cost...

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age 18-65
• • Diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
• • No new medication for past 3 months and stable dose for past 4 weeks
• • SANS (Negative symptom) score of 20 or above
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Significant dementia or head trauma.
• • Seizure during past year.
• • Substance dependence in past 6 months or positive urine drug screen.
• • History of hormone-sensitive cancer such as breast, testicular, prostate, ovarian or uterine cancers.
• • Steroid metabolism disorder, e.g.Cushings or Addison's disease.
• • Taking steroids other than birth control or post-menopausal hormones.
• • Women who are pregnant or nursing.