for the Treatment of Negative Symptoms and Cognitive Impairments

This was a multi-center study, done in collaboration with researchers at UCLA, Nathan Kline Institute, and Hillside Hospital, which evaluated the efficacy of the drugs: d-cycloserine and glycine, in the treatment of negative symptoms and cognitive impairments.  D-Cycloserine is approved by the FDA, as an antibiotic treatment of bacterial infections. 

Glycine is an amino acid, which is available as an over-the-counter nutritional supplement.  The effectiveness of these drugs as a treatment for the negative symptoms or cognitive impairments of schizophrenia have not been determined. 

This study was under the direction of Dr. William Carpenter and Dr. Robert Buchanan. The study was a 16-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, in which subjects received either d-cycloserine, glycine, or placebo.  Following the double-blind study, subjects participated in an 8-week open trial of either glycine or d-cycloserine.  A total of 157 subjects from all sites completed the study.

Results:  Data from this study is still being analyzed, but initial analysis indicates that there was no significant effect of either glycine or d-cycloserine on negative symptoms and cognitive impairments.

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