Clozapine-induced OCS in schizophrenia version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding the neuropsychological mechanisms of clozapine-induced OCS in schizophrenia
IRAS ID
240647
Contact name
Emilio Fernandez
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
R & D department
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 4 months, 30 days
Research summary
The development of obsessive-compulsive symptoms as a consequence of Second Generation Antipsychotics, particularly via clozapine treatment which has an anti-serotonergic and a slight anti-dopaminergic working, is commonly reported in a substantial proportion (20-70%) of schizophrenia patients. Schizophrenia with obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) has a more negative prognosis, such as higher severity of positive and negative symptoms, reduced social functioning and a greater suicidal risk and so this group is particularly important to study further.
Despite the high prevalence of clozapine induced OCS in schizophrenia and its negative consequences and prognosis, no studies have been completed on the neuropsychological characterization of this interesting patient group. Hence, the cognitive impairments and their underlying mechanisms are still unknown. We propose here to address these points and provide a deeper understanding of the neuropsychological basis of clozapine-induced OCS in schizophrenia patients.
Our main hypothesis is that schizophrenia patients on clozapine with OCS will show exacerbations of deficits in cognitive rigidity, perseveration, checking behaviour and working memory impairment at similar levels as patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and with greater levels than non-clozapine OCS patients with schizophrenia. Thus, we hope to gain greater insight into the nature of potentially distinct behavioural and cognitive deficits underlying obsessive compulsive symptoms between primarily OCD and schizophrenia patients treated with clozapine.We will compare groups of schizophrenia patients under clozapine treatment (or prior to clozapine treatment) with OCD patients, from a separate study with the same design and using the same tasks, and healthy volunteers. Participants will be asked to complete a number of different computerized tasks along with a series of semi-structured interviews or questionnaires to assess severity of obsessive and compulsive symptoms and other clinical characteristics such as positive and negative symptoms and tics. Testing time will not exceed 2 hours.
REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/EE/0073
Date of REC Opinion
21 May 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion