RATIONALE: Cognitive symptoms have increasingly been recognized as an important target in the development of future treatment strategies in schizophrenia. The nicotinergic neurotransmission system has been suggested as a potentially interesting treatment target for these cognitive deficits. However, previous research yielded conflicting results, which may be explained by several methodological limitations, such as the failure to include both a group of smoking and non-smoking schizophrenic patients, the use of only a single nicotine dose, and the inclusion of a very limited cognitive battery. OBJECTIVES: The present study aims at investigating the cognitive effects of nicotine in schizophrenia while addressing these methodological issues. METHODS: In a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized crossover design, cognitive effects are assessed in smoking (n =16) and non-smoking (n =16) schizophrenic patients after receiving active (1 or 2 mg) orplacebo oromucosal nicotine spray. RESULTS: A modest improving effect of nicotine on attention in the smoking but not the non-smoking group was found. No enhancing effects were found on measures of visual memory, working memory, processing speed, psychomotor speed, or social cognitive functioning in either patient group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the nicotinic receptor only has limited value as a cognitive treatment target in schizophrenia.
RCT Entities:
RATIONALE: Cognitive symptoms have increasingly been recognized as an important target in the development of future treatment strategies in schizophrenia. The nicotinergic neurotransmission system has been suggested as a potentially interesting treatment target for these cognitive deficits. However, previous research yielded conflicting results, which may be explained by several methodological limitations, such as the failure to include both a group of smoking and non-smoking schizophrenicpatients, the use of only a single nicotine dose, and the inclusion of a very limited cognitive battery. OBJECTIVES: The present study aims at investigating the cognitive effects of nicotine in schizophrenia while addressing these methodological issues. METHODS: In a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized crossover design, cognitive effects are assessed in smoking (n =16) and non-smoking (n =16) schizophrenicpatients after receiving active (1 or 2 mg) or placebo oromucosal nicotine spray. RESULTS: A modest improving effect of nicotine on attention in the smoking but not the non-smoking group was found. No enhancing effects were found on measures of visual memory, working memory, processing speed, psychomotor speed, or social cognitive functioning in either patient group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the nicotinic receptor only has limited value as a cognitive treatment target in schizophrenia.
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