Minocycline as an Adjunctive Therapy for Schizophrenia: a Randomized Controlled Study

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men and women 20-65 years of age.
• Primary DSM-IV diagnosis of Schizophrenia based on SCID for schizophrenia and confirmed by two senior psychiatrists.
• Patients who scored "moderate" (4) or higher on at least three of seven positive items in PANSS
• Initiated on treatment with atypical anti-psychotic medication.
• Capable and willing to provide informed consent
• Able to adhere to the treatment schedule
• Able to read, hear, write and speak the local language.
• Has signed a written informed consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with acute, unstable, significant, or untreated medical illness besides schizophrenia including alcohol and drug dependence, or depression.
• Current suicidal ideation or history of a suicide attempt in the past 3 years
• Known or suspected pregnancy or women of childbearing potential and not using a medically accepted form of contraception when engaging in sexual intercourse. or women who are breastfeeding
• Subjects who were taking a known contraindication to minocycline treatment.
• Subjects who had received treatment with minocycline or β-lactam antibiotics in the preceding half year before study entry.
• Subjects who were under compulsory hospitalization.