The Benefit of Minocycline on Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia: Extent and Mechanisms (BeneMin)
Schizophrenia and Disorders With Psychotic Features
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Schizophrenia and Disorders With Psychotic Features focused on measuring psychosis, schizophrenia, negative symptoms, minocycline
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Meeting DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia, schizophreniform or schizo-affective psychosis as assessed by the research team
- In an episode as defined by the presence of positive symptoms measured by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale with a score higher than two in items 1,2,3 or 6 in the Positive scale
- In contact with early intervention community or in-patient service
- Within 5 years of first diagnosis
- Intelligence quotient (IQ) greater than 70
- Participants and their partners must be willing to use effective birth control throughout the study and seven days after stopping trial medication. Females should have a negative pregnancy test
- Able to understand and willing to give written informed consent
- Fluent in English
Exclusion Criteria:
- Current substance misuse diagnosis that in the opinion of the investigator may interfere with the study
- Patients who, in the investigator's judgement pose a current serious suicidal or violence risk
- Use of tetracycline antibiotics within 2 months of the randomisation visit or history of sensitivity or intolerance for this type of antibiotics
- History of Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (SLE) or a history of SLE in a first-degree relative
- Use of any investigational drug within a month of randomisation visit
- Relevant current or past hematologic, hepatic, renal, neurological or other medical disorder in the opinion of the principal investigator (PI) or the responsible medical officer (RMO) may interfere with the trial
- Taking medical treatments that could seriously interact with minocycline as described in the summary of product characteristics (SPC) and judged by the PI or the RMO
- Clinically significant deviation from the reference range in clinical laboratory test results as judged by the investigator
- Previous randomisation in the present study
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Meeting MRI exclusion criteria as defined by local scanning centres
Sites / Locations
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Placebo Comparator
Minocycline
Placebo
Participants will receive capsules containing 100mg of minocycline (modified release), two per day for the first two weeks of the trial and then three per day for the remainder of the 12 month treatment period in addition to antipsychotic drug treatment and other interventions by the responsibel medical officer.
Participants will receive placebo capsules entirely matching minocycline, two per day for the first two weeks of the trial and then three per day for the reminder of the 12 month treatment period in addition to antipsychotic drug treatment and other interventions by the responsibel medical officer.