Schizophrenia: Folate Supplementation in Schizophrenia

Contact name: Donald Goff, M.D.

Phone: (617)-912-7820

Fax: (617)-912-7899

Email: goff@psych.mgh.harvard.edu

Disorder: Schizophrenia

Geographic location: Boston, MA

Other keywords: Folate, negative symptoms

Participant compensation: $80

Time commitment required: 12 week study

Drug trial: No

Recruitment end date (approximate): January 18, 2006

Study criteria (i.e., age or gender requirements):
1. Schizophrenia, any subtype
2. Ages 18-68
3. Male or female
4. A score of 3 or greater(moderate or greater severity) on at least one of the SANS global assessment subscales, with the exception of the attention global assessment subscale
5. Stable antipsychotic dose for > 6 weeks
6. Capable of providing informed consent

Exclusion criteria:
1. Taking folate supplements within 3 months
2. Unstable medical illness
3. Substance abuse
4. Megaloblastic anemia
5. Homocysteine > 14 ƒÝM/L
6. Non-english speaking

Brief description of study:
This study is a 12 week, placebo-controlled trial of the effect of 2mg folate on negative symptoms among 50 schizophrenia patients. The specific aims include:
1. Examine factors potentially contributing to differences in blood folate, homocysteine or B12 levels between patients at baseline, including dietary intake and cigarette smoking.
2. Test the hypothesis that low folate is associated with negative symptoms by examining correlations between red blood cell folate concentrations and clinical ratings of negative symptoms and by comparing folate concentrations in deficit syndrome versus non-deficit syndrome patients. We will also control for dietary intake cigarettes smoking, gender, and age.
3. Examine the efficacy of folate supplementation for reducing negative symptoms.

Additional information: