Abstract
Background In a previous pilot study, MK-0777a γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A α2/α3 partial agonistwas reported to improve delayed memory and cognitive measures of prefrontal cortical function in people with schizophrenia. The current study was designed to further examine the efficacy and safety of MK-0777 for the treatment of cognitive impairments in schizophrenia. Methods Sixty people with DSM-IV schizophrenia entered a 4-week, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. Participants were randomized to: MK-0777 3 mg b.i.d. (n = 18); MK-0777 8 mg b.i.d. (n = 21); or placebo (n = 21). Participants were clinically stable. The Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) Consensus Cognitive Battery, AX-Continuous Performance Test, and N-Back were used to assess cognition. The University of California San Diego (UCSD) Performance Based Skills Assessment-2 and the Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale assessed functional capacity and served as functional outcome coprimary measures. Results There were no significant group differences on the primary outcome measure, the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery composite score. Secondary analyses suggested that participants randomized to placebo performed significantly better on visual memory and reasoning/problem-solving tests than participants assigned to either MK-0777 dose. There were no significant group differences on the AX-Continuous Performance Test or N-Back d prime scores or UCSD Performance-Based Skills Assessment2 and Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale total scores. In general, MK-0777 was well-tolerated with minimal side effects. Conclusions The study results suggest that MK-0777 has little benefit for cognitive impairments in people with schizophrenia. The GABAA receptor remains a promising target, but a more potent partial agonist with greater intrinsic activity at the GABAA α2 site might be needed for cognitive enhancement in schizophrenia.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 442-449 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Biological Psychiatry |
| Volume | 69 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 1 2011 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Clinical trial
- cognition
- functional capacity
- schizophrenia
- symptoms
- γ-amino-butyric acid
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biological Psychiatry
Cite this
A randomized clinical trial of MK-0777 for the treatment of cognitive impairments in people with schizophrenia. / Buchanan, Robert W.; Keefe, Richard S.E.; Lieberman, Jeffrey A.; Barch, Deanna M.; Csernansky, John G.; Goff, Donald C.; Gold, James M.; Green, Michael F.; Jarskog, L. Fredrik; Javitt, Daniel C.; Kimhy, David; Kraus, Michael S.; McEvoy, Joseph Patrick; Mesholam-Gately, Raquelle I.; Seidman, Larry J.; Ball, M. Patricia; McMahon, Robert P.; Kern, Robert S.; Robinson, James; Marder, Stephen R.
In: Biological Psychiatry, Vol. 69, No. 5, 01.03.2011, p. 442-449.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A randomized clinical trial of MK-0777 for the treatment of cognitive impairments in people with schizophrenia
AU - Buchanan, Robert W.
AU - Keefe, Richard S.E.
AU - Lieberman, Jeffrey A.
AU - Barch, Deanna M.
AU - Csernansky, John G.
AU - Goff, Donald C.
AU - Gold, James M.
AU - Green, Michael F.
AU - Jarskog, L. Fredrik
AU - Javitt, Daniel C.
AU - Kimhy, David
AU - Kraus, Michael S.
AU - McEvoy, Joseph Patrick
AU - Mesholam-Gately, Raquelle I.
AU - Seidman, Larry J.
AU - Ball, M. Patricia
AU - McMahon, Robert P.
AU - Kern, Robert S.
AU - Robinson, James
AU - Marder, Stephen R.
PY - 2011/3/1
Y1 - 2011/3/1
N2 - Background In a previous pilot study, MK-0777a γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A α2/α3 partial agonistwas reported to improve delayed memory and cognitive measures of prefrontal cortical function in people with schizophrenia. The current study was designed to further examine the efficacy and safety of MK-0777 for the treatment of cognitive impairments in schizophrenia. Methods Sixty people with DSM-IV schizophrenia entered a 4-week, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. Participants were randomized to: MK-0777 3 mg b.i.d. (n = 18); MK-0777 8 mg b.i.d. (n = 21); or placebo (n = 21). Participants were clinically stable. The Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) Consensus Cognitive Battery, AX-Continuous Performance Test, and N-Back were used to assess cognition. The University of California San Diego (UCSD) Performance Based Skills Assessment-2 and the Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale assessed functional capacity and served as functional outcome coprimary measures. Results There were no significant group differences on the primary outcome measure, the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery composite score. Secondary analyses suggested that participants randomized to placebo performed significantly better on visual memory and reasoning/problem-solving tests than participants assigned to either MK-0777 dose. There were no significant group differences on the AX-Continuous Performance Test or N-Back d prime scores or UCSD Performance-Based Skills Assessment2 and Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale total scores. In general, MK-0777 was well-tolerated with minimal side effects. Conclusions The study results suggest that MK-0777 has little benefit for cognitive impairments in people with schizophrenia. The GABAA receptor remains a promising target, but a more potent partial agonist with greater intrinsic activity at the GABAA α2 site might be needed for cognitive enhancement in schizophrenia.
AB - Background In a previous pilot study, MK-0777a γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A α2/α3 partial agonistwas reported to improve delayed memory and cognitive measures of prefrontal cortical function in people with schizophrenia. The current study was designed to further examine the efficacy and safety of MK-0777 for the treatment of cognitive impairments in schizophrenia. Methods Sixty people with DSM-IV schizophrenia entered a 4-week, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. Participants were randomized to: MK-0777 3 mg b.i.d. (n = 18); MK-0777 8 mg b.i.d. (n = 21); or placebo (n = 21). Participants were clinically stable. The Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) Consensus Cognitive Battery, AX-Continuous Performance Test, and N-Back were used to assess cognition. The University of California San Diego (UCSD) Performance Based Skills Assessment-2 and the Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale assessed functional capacity and served as functional outcome coprimary measures. Results There were no significant group differences on the primary outcome measure, the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery composite score. Secondary analyses suggested that participants randomized to placebo performed significantly better on visual memory and reasoning/problem-solving tests than participants assigned to either MK-0777 dose. There were no significant group differences on the AX-Continuous Performance Test or N-Back d prime scores or UCSD Performance-Based Skills Assessment2 and Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale total scores. In general, MK-0777 was well-tolerated with minimal side effects. Conclusions The study results suggest that MK-0777 has little benefit for cognitive impairments in people with schizophrenia. The GABAA receptor remains a promising target, but a more potent partial agonist with greater intrinsic activity at the GABAA α2 site might be needed for cognitive enhancement in schizophrenia.
KW - Clinical trial
KW - cognition
KW - functional capacity
KW - schizophrenia
KW - symptoms
KW - γ-amino-butyric acid
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79951656529&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79951656529&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.09.052
DO - 10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.09.052
M3 - Article
VL - 69
SP - 442
EP - 449
JO - Biological Psychiatry
JF - Biological Psychiatry
SN - 0006-3223
IS - 5
ER -