Clozapine improves working memory updating in schizophrenia.

Author(s): Galletly CA, Clark CR, McFarlane AC

Affiliation(s): University of Adelaide Department of Psychiatry, Ward 1G, Lyell McEwin Health Service, Oldham Rd, Elizabeth Vale, South Australia 5112, Australia. cherrie.galletly@adelaide.edu.au

Publication date & source: 2005-12, Eur Neuropsychopharmacol., 15(6):601-8.

Publication type: Clinical Trial

This study investigated the effect of clozapine on working memory in 15 subjects with schizophrenia, using an event related potential paradigm designed to separate components reflecting working memory updating from components related to target detection and response. Compared to matched controls and prior to treatment with clozapine, subjects with schizophrenia had N1, P3 and Late Slow Wave abnormalities indicating impairment in early stimulus evaluation and subsequent working memory functions. Treatment with clozapine was associated with normalization of the P3 and Late Slow Waves, indicating improvement in working memory updating and executive processing. There was also a partial normalization of N1 amplitude, suggesting improvement in early stimulus evaluation.