Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
2565251 Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 2011 7 Pages PDF
Abstract

Enhancement of neurocognition is essential in the treatment of schizophrenia. In our previously reported six-week Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) mirtazapine added to conventional antipsychotics improved not only negative, but also positive symptoms and neurocognition in difficult-to-treat schizophrenia. The present study aimed to explore whether a prolonged exposure to mirtazapine could further improve neurocognition.Completers of the RCT who were able and willing to proceed to the extension phase received open label mirtazapine for an additional 6 weeks. During the extension phase, both groups (i.e., patients who previously received mirtazapine and those who received placebo) and the whole population showed improvement on a number of neurocognitive tests. Patients who shifted to open label mirtazapine from placebo achieved in the six following weeks similar results as their initially mirtazapine-treated counterparts did during their first 6 weeks of mirtazapine exposure. Middle-term mirtazapine treatment (12 weeks) demonstrated an advantage over short-term mirtazapine treatment (6 weeks) on Stroop Dots time and Trail Making Test, part B, number of mistakes (t = − 2.562, p = 0.035 and t = − 2.42, p = 0.043, correspondingly).Mirtazapine added to antipsychotics consistently shows desirable effects on neurocognition. Lengthy treatment seems worthwhile. Mirtazapine may become a safe and cost-saving neurocognitive enhancer in schizophrenia, yet more studies are needed.

Research highlights► Enhancement of neurocognition is essential in the treatment of schizophrenia. ► Mirtazapine added to antipsychotics shows some desired effects on neurocognition. ► Cognitive benefits of mirtazapine may affect mostly attention and executive functions. ► Prolonged treatment with adjunctive mirtazapine may yield additional benefits.

Related Topics
Life Sciences Neuroscience Biological Psychiatry
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