Placebo-controlled trial of D-cycloserine added to conventional neuroleptics, olanzapine, or risperidone in schizophrenia.

Author(s): Heresco-Levy U, Ermilov M, Shimoni J, Shapira B, Silipo G, Javitt DC

Affiliation(s): Ezrath Nashim-Herzog Memorial Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel. heresco@md2.huji.ac.il

Publication date & source: 2002-03, Am J Psychiatry., 159(3):480-2.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: The authors investigated the clinical effects of D-cycloserine when added to treatment with conventional neuroleptics, olanzapine, or risperidone for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. METHOD: Twenty-four patients participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-week crossover trial with D-cycloserine, 50 mg/day, added to their fixed dose of antipsychotic medication. Clinical ratings were performed every 2 weeks. RESULTS: D-Cycloserine treatment was well tolerated and resulted in a significant reduction in negative symptoms (mean=15%). The degree of improvement did not differ between patients treated with conventional neuroleptics and those treated with olanzapine or risperidone. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the efficacy of the addition of 50 mg/day of D-cycloserine to treatment with conventional neuroleptics and suggest that therapeutic benefits may also be attained when D-cycloserine is added to olanzapine or risperidone.