D-Serine for Enhancing Cognitive Retraining for the Treatment of Schizophrenia

D-Serine Augmentation of Cognitive Retraining in Schizophrenia

This study will examine the effectiveness of D-serine in increasing and sustaining the benefits of cognitive retraining in people with schizophrenia.

This study is based on the hypothesis that by increasing NMDA receptor function in the brain and thereby increasing the capacity of the brain to both form new connections and strengthen existing connections, schizophrenic patients may derive both greater and sustained benefit from cognitive retraining.

Patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who are currently receiving antipsychotic medication will be randomly assigned in a double-blind manner to receive either D-serine (30 mg/kg) or placebo in addition to cognitive rehabilitation or a non-interactive placebo for 12 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
• Clinically stable
• Treated with antipsychotic medications for at least 6 months in the past, and on a stable dose of the same antipsychotic medication over the past month
• Not pregnant or lactating

Exclusion Criteria:

• Other current or past DSM-IV Axis I diagnosis
• Calgary Depression scale score >10 or Simpson-Angus Rating Scale score > 20
• Currently treated with clozapine, lamotrigine or carbamazepine, or defined as treatment refractory
• Substance abuse or dependence within the past 3 months, except for nicotine
• Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised score < 70
• Significant recent (within past 3 months) risk of committing suicide
• Abnormal thyroid function tests within the last 6 months
• Previous treatment with D-serine
• History of evidence of a medical or neurological condition that would expose the subject to an undue risk of a significant adverse event or interfere with assessments of safety or efficacy during the trial
• Clinically significant abnormal laboratory test results at screening
• ECT treatment within the past two months