Double blind trial of adjunctive valacyclovir in individuals with schizophrenia who are seropositive for cytomegalovirus.
Author(s): Dickerson FB, Stallings CR, Boronow JJ, Origoni AE, Sullens A, Yolken RH
Affiliation(s): Sheppard Pratt Health System, 6501 North Charles St., Baltimore, MD, 21204, USA.
Publication date & source: 2009-02, Schizophr Res., 107(2-3):147-9. Epub 2008 Nov 12.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate if adjunctive valacyclovir, an antiviral medication, reduces symptoms of persistent schizophrenia in individuals who are seropositive for cytomegalovirus (CMV). METHOD: N=47 CMV seropositive schizophrenia outpatients were randomly assigned to receive valacyclovir 1 g twice daily (n=24) or placebo (n=23) for 16 weeks after a 2-week placebo run-in. Symptoms were assessed biweekly. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the change of positive, negative, general, or total PANSS symptoms between the valacyclovir vs. the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: The study did not demonstrate benefit of adjunctive valacyclovir for schizophrenia individuals with persistent symptoms who are CMV seropositive.
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