Disturbance of Plasma Cytokine Parameters in Clozapine-Resistant Treatment-Refractory Schizophrenia (CTRS) and Their Association With Combination Therapy

In this study, investigators designed a double-blind randomized trial to compare the efficacy and safety between sodium valproate, amisulpride and MECT combination therapy in clozapine-treated refractory schizophrenia (CTRS).

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Schizophrenia
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: sodium valproate with Clozapine; Device: modified electroconvulsive therapy(MECT) with Clozapine; Drug: amisulpride with Clozapine; Drug: placebo with Clozapine

Detailed Description

Schizophrenia is one of the most serious mental illnesses worldwide that affects approximately 1% of the worldwide population and result in a heavy economic burden to affected family. Antipsychotics are the main stay of treatment of schizophrenia, however, there are still approximately 1/3 schizophrenia patients who does not responded to the antipsychotic agents, and these patients easily develop into treatment-refractory schizophrenia (TRS).

Clozapine is the only evidence based effective medication for treatment-refractory schizophrenia (TRS). In spite of its prominent efficacy, approximately 1/3-2/1 treatment-refractory schizophrenia (TRS) treated with clozapine still present with significant residual psychotic symptoms and negative symptoms. As such, over time, clinicians struggled to find strategies to improve outcome by augmenting the concomitant psychiatric treatments, including not only combining antipsychotics but also combining a mood stabilizer or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

Clozapine is an antipsychotic drug with multi receptor blocking effect and has a low affinity for dopamine D2. Studies of traditional antipsychotics have suggested that maximal efficacy occurs with dopamine D2 occupancy of 70% or more, while clozapine's dopamine D2 occupancy levels less than 60%. Amisulpride has a highly selective blocking effect on dopamine D2 and dopamine D3 receptors and has no affinity for any other known receptors. Its unique dopamine receptor blocking effect may selectively enhances the limited dopamine D2 blocking effect of clozapine, making it possible to be a suitable and effective drug for combination with clozapine. A number of promising studies that have augmented clozapine with amisulpride, have shown psychiatric symptoms improvement in TRS versus those on clozapine alone.

Both electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and antiepileptic drugs, such as sodium valproate, shares anticonvulsant properties and anticonvulsant effect relate to clinical efficacy. In 1983, Sackeim et al. pointed out that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)-induced cortical gamma-aminobutyric-acid (GABA) depletion may be the reason for its anticonvulsant action. In addition, the effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on the gamma-aminobutyric-acid (GABA) system was confirmed by several studies. Interestingly, it has been reported that the therapeutic effect of sodium valproate combined with antipsychotics is closely related to gamma-aminobutyric-acid (GABA) system.

Growing evidence suggests that the immune, endocrine, and nervous systems interact with each other through cytokines, hormones, and neurotransmitters. The activation of the immune system may be involved in the neuropathological changes occurring in the central nervous system. Among several components of immune pathogenesis, aberrant cytokine signaling is considered as one of the key contributors. Many cytokines have been speculated to be involved in the pathological process of schizophrenia. IL-2 acts as a growth factor for T cells, NK cells and B cells, abnormalities of IL-2 serum levels or its production were found in acute schizophrenia cases. IL-6 is an inflammatory cytokine, which plays significant role in neurobiological functions like neuronal differentiation and survival, synaptic transmission and brain morphometry. The abnormal expression of IL-6 can be found in both first-episode and chronic schizophrenia. TNF-α is one of the most important pro-inflammatory cytokines, which expressed mainly by macrophages. Previous studies have found that the expression of TNF-α is abnormal in patients with schizophrenia.

The primary objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety between sodium valproate, amisulpride and MECT combination therapy in clozapine-treated refractory schizophrenia during a 12 weeks period. In addition, the effect of combined therapy on plasma cytokines (IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-α) will be evaluated.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 145
• Phase: Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Shanghai
    • Shanghai, Shanghai, China, 200030
      • Shanghai Mental Health Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years to 58 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• The diagnosis of schizophrenia according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV)
• 18～60 years old
• Clozapine resistance was defined as used at least two antipsychotics with different chemical structures with appropriate dosages for a sufficient duration, and recently have received stable dose of clozapine 400 mg or more per day for at least 6 months.
• Signed an informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients to be diagnosed according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) for substance abused, development delayed
• Suffering from serious physical disease and can not accept the treatment
• Allergic to sodium valproate, amisulpride, propofol, succinylcholine or atropine
• Participated in any clinical subject within 30 days
• Pregnancy or lactation
• Inability to sign informed consent because of capacity due due to severe mental illness, significant psychomotor agitation or slowness test completion

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: sodium valproate with clozapine; sodium valproate, dosage form: 250 mg, dosage and frequency:250 mg/d for 1 week, 500 mg/d for week 2 , 1000 mg/d for weeks 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 , 8, 9, 10, 11and 12; clozapine, dosage and frequency:300~600 mg/d; duration: 12 weeks. Intervention: Drug: sodium valproate with Clozapine	Drug: sodium valproate with Clozapine; sodium valproate may be used as a synergistic agent of clozapine in the treatment of treatment-refractory schizophrenia; Other Names: Valproate
Experimental: Modified electroconvulsive therapy with clozapine; 12 times MECT for 12 weeks，once a week for the 12 weeks; clozapine, dosage and frequency:300~600 mg/d; duration: 12 weeks. Intervention: Device: modified electroconvulsive therapy(MECT) with Clozapine	Device: modified electroconvulsive therapy(MECT) with Clozapine; modified electroconvulsive therapy(MECT) may be used as a synergistic agent of clozapine in the treatment of treatment-refractory schizophrenia
Experimental: amisulpride; amisulpride, dosage form: 200 mg, dosage and frequency:200 mg/d for 1 week, 400 mg/d for week 2,800 mg/d for weeks 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 , 8, 9, 10, 11and 12; clozapine, dosage and frequency:300~600 mg/d; duration: 12 weeks. Intervention: Drug: amisulpride with Clozapine	Drug: amisulpride with Clozapine; amisulpride may be used as a synergistic agent of clozapine in the treatment of treatment-refractory schizophrenia
Placebo Comparator: placebo; The amisulpride and placebo tablets were identical in appearance. One placebo tablet for the first one week, two placebo tablets for the second week, four placebo tablets for weeks 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 , 8, 9, 10, 11and 12; clozapine, dosage and frequency:300~600 mg/d; duration: 12 weeks. Intervention: Drug: placebo with Clozapine	Drug: placebo with Clozapine; placebo may be used as a synergistic agent of clozapine in the treatment of treatment-refractory schizophrenia

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)	The battery of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) test will be administered in a 30-minute sessions to evaluate the psychiatric symptoms.	the baseline
Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)	The battery of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) test will be administered in a 30-minute sessions to evaluate the psychiatric symptoms.	the end of the six week
Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)	The battery of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) test will be administered in a 30-minute sessions to evaluate the psychiatric symptoms.	the end of the twelve week
Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS)	The Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) was applied to assess negative symptoms.	the baseline
Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS)	The Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) was applied to assess negative symptoms.	the end of the six week
Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS)	The Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) was applied to assess negative symptoms.	the end of the twelve week
Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS)	The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) was used to evaluate the cognitive performance.	the baseline
Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS)	The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) was used to evaluate the cognitive performance.	the end of the six week
Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS)	The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) was used to evaluate the cognitive performance.	the end of the twelve week
Clinical Global Impression (CGI)	The Clinical Global Impression (CGI) including severity scale (CGI-S), improvement scale (CGI-I), and efficacy index (CGI-E) was used to evaluate the severity of symptoms and treatment response and treatment effect, respectively.	the baseline
Clinical Global Impression (CGI)	The Clinical Global Impression (CGI) including severity scale (CGI-S), improvement scale (CGI-I), and efficacy index (CGI-E) was used to evaluate the severity of symptoms and treatment response and treatment effect, respectively.	the end of the six week
Clinical Global Impression (CGI)	The Clinical Global Impression (CGI) including severity scale (CGI-S), improvement scale (CGI-I), and efficacy index (CGI-E) was used to evaluate the severity of symptoms and treatment response and treatment effect, respectively.	the end of the twelve week
Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS)	The Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS) was used to assess the severity of treatment adverse events.	the baseline
Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS)	The Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS) was used to assess the severity of treatment adverse events.	the end of the six week
Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS)	The Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS) was used to assess the severity of treatment adverse events.	the end of the twelve week
plasma cytokines IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-α	The plasma cytokines IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-α would be measured using ELISA kits (R & D Systems, Mississauga, Ontario, CANADA).	the baseline
plasma cytokines IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-α	The plasma cytokines IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-α would be measured using ELISA kits (R & D Systems, Mississauga, Ontario, CANADA).	the end of the twelve week

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Shanghai Mental Health Center
• Collaborators: Shanghai Pudong New Area Mental Health Center; The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Zezhi Li, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Zhu MH, Liu ZJ, Hu QY, Yang JY, Jin Y, Zhu N, Huang Y, Shi DH, Liu MJ, Tan HY, Zhao L, Lv QY, Yi ZH, Wu FC, Li ZZ. Amisulpride augmentation therapy improves cognitive performance and psychopathology in clozapine-resistant treatment-refractory schizophrenia: a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Mil Med Res. 2022 Oct 18;9(1):59. doi: 10.1186/s40779-022-00420-0.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 6, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 30, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): August 30, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 25, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 28, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): August 31, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 6, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 1, 2022
• Last Verified: June 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Schizophrenia， clozapine， amisulpride, valproate， ECT, cytokine
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders; Schizophrenia; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Central Nervous System Depressants; Enzyme Inhibitors; Antipsychotic Agents; Tranquilizing Agents; Psychotropic Drugs; Serotonin Agents; Antidepressive Agents; Dopamine Agents; Serotonin Antagonists; Dopamine Antagonists; GABA Agents; Anticonvulsants; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; Antimanic Agents; GABA Antagonists; Valproic Acid; Amisulpride; Clozapine
• Other Study ID Numbers: 81171272

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No