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Adjunctive Withania Somnifera (Ashwagandha) for Persistent Symptoms in People With Schizophrenia

Primary Purpose

Schizophrenia

Status
Active
Phase
Phase 2
Locations
United States
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
WSE
Placebo Oral Tablet
Sponsored by
Chengappa, K.N. Roy, MD
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Schizophrenia focused on measuring Schizophrenia, Withania Somnifera

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - 64 Years (Adult)All SexesDoes not accept healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) 5 diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
  • Ability to provide informed written consent
  • PANSS total score ≥ 70 or a CGI Severity Scored ≥ 4; and at least 2 positive symptom subscale items (i.e., delusions, conceptual disorganization, hallucinatory behavior, excitement, grandiosity, suspiciousness/persecution, hostility and unusual thought content) scoring ≥ 4, or one of these items scoring ≥ 5, on a scale ranging from 1 = absent to 7 = extreme.
  • Evidence of a positive symptom exacerbation during the year prior to study entry.
  • For women of child bearing age, a negative serum pregnancy test at screening

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Testing positive for illicit substances (positivity to marijuana or opioids will be assessed on a case by case basis due to the long elimination half life in the urine of marijuana and the use of opioids for various pain disorders, caffeine and nicotine are excepted)
  • Receiving pharmacological treatment for addictions (naltrexone, suboxone, acamprosate, others) will be reviewed on a case by case basis
  • Seriously unstable medical illnesses
  • Pregnant or breast feeding women
  • Known allergy or history of serious adverse event with WSE
  • Subjects who may require imminent hospitalization (examples: suicidal or aggressive behavior)
  • Currently receiving antibiotics, anti-viral, or anti-parasitic medications
  • Currently receiving immunosuppressive medications (e.g. oral scheduled corticosteroids, chemotherapy or transplantation or HIV/AIDS associated drugs).

Sites / Locations

  • UCLA
  • Maryland Psychiatric Research Center

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Experimental

Placebo Comparator

Arm Label

Withania Somnifera Extract (WSE)

Placebo tablets

Arm Description

WSE 500 mg bid for 12 weeks

Placebo oral tablet bid for 12 weeks

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Positive and Negative Symptom Scale
The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) is a medical scale used for measuring symptom severity of patients with schizophrenia. To assess a patient using PANSS, an approximately 45-minute clinical interview is conducted. The patient is rated from 1 to 7 on 30 different symptoms based on the interview as well as reports of family members or primary care hospital workers. A patient cannot score lower than 30 for the total PANSS score. Scores are often given separately for the positive items, negative items, and general psychopathology.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Full Information

First Posted
February 1, 2018
Last Updated
July 5, 2023
Sponsor
Chengappa, K.N. Roy, MD
Collaborators
Stanley Medical Research Institute, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT03437668
Brief Title
Adjunctive Withania Somnifera (Ashwagandha) for Persistent Symptoms in People With Schizophrenia
Official Title
Adjunctive Withania Somnifera (Ashwagandha) for Persistent Symptoms in People With Schizophrenia
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
July 2023
Overall Recruitment Status
Active, not recruiting
Study Start Date
December 1, 2018 (Actual)
Primary Completion Date
June 30, 2023 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
December 31, 2023 (Anticipated)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Principal Investigator
Name of the Sponsor
Chengappa, K.N. Roy, MD
Collaborators
Stanley Medical Research Institute, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center

4. Oversight

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product
Yes
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product
No
Data Monitoring Committee
Yes

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
To determine whether a standardized extract of Withania somnifera will reduce psychopathology scores (PANSS total score) in persons with schizophrenia. A secondary aim is to determine whether WSE reduces measures of positive and negative symptoms (PANSS subscales) and stress scores on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS).

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Schizophrenia
Keywords
Schizophrenia, Withania Somnifera

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Phase 2, Phase 3
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
ParticipantCare ProviderInvestigatorOutcomes Assessor
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
66 (Anticipated)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Withania Somnifera Extract (WSE)
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
WSE 500 mg bid for 12 weeks
Arm Title
Placebo tablets
Arm Type
Placebo Comparator
Arm Description
Placebo oral tablet bid for 12 weeks
Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
WSE
Other Intervention Name(s)
Withania somnifera extracts, Ashwagandha, Sensoril®
Intervention Description
WSE tablets
Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
Placebo Oral Tablet
Intervention Description
Placebo tablet
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Positive and Negative Symptom Scale
Description
The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) is a medical scale used for measuring symptom severity of patients with schizophrenia. To assess a patient using PANSS, an approximately 45-minute clinical interview is conducted. The patient is rated from 1 to 7 on 30 different symptoms based on the interview as well as reports of family members or primary care hospital workers. A patient cannot score lower than 30 for the total PANSS score. Scores are often given separately for the positive items, negative items, and general psychopathology.
Time Frame
12 weeks

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Gender Based
Yes
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Maximum Age & Unit of Time
64 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) 5 diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder Ability to provide informed written consent PANSS total score ≥ 70 or a CGI Severity Scored ≥ 4; and at least 2 positive symptom subscale items (i.e., delusions, conceptual disorganization, hallucinatory behavior, excitement, grandiosity, suspiciousness/persecution, hostility and unusual thought content) scoring ≥ 4, or one of these items scoring ≥ 5, on a scale ranging from 1 = absent to 7 = extreme. Evidence of a positive symptom exacerbation during the year prior to study entry. For women of child bearing age, a negative serum pregnancy test at screening Exclusion Criteria: Testing positive for illicit substances (positivity to marijuana or opioids will be assessed on a case by case basis due to the long elimination half life in the urine of marijuana and the use of opioids for various pain disorders, caffeine and nicotine are excepted) Receiving pharmacological treatment for addictions (naltrexone, suboxone, acamprosate, others) will be reviewed on a case by case basis Seriously unstable medical illnesses Pregnant or breast feeding women Known allergy or history of serious adverse event with WSE Subjects who may require imminent hospitalization (examples: suicidal or aggressive behavior) Currently receiving antibiotics, anti-viral, or anti-parasitic medications Currently receiving immunosuppressive medications (e.g. oral scheduled corticosteroids, chemotherapy or transplantation or HIV/AIDS associated drugs).
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Stephen Marder, MD
Organizational Affiliation
Semel Inst at UCLA
Official's Role
Study Chair
Facility Information:
Facility Name
UCLA
City
Los Angeles
State/Province
California
ZIP/Postal Code
90095
Country
United States
Facility Name
Maryland Psychiatric Research Center
City
Catonsville
State/Province
Maryland
ZIP/Postal Code
21228
Country
United States

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Plan to Share IPD
Undecided
IPD Sharing Plan Description
Deidentified will be submitted an NIH repository

Learn more about this trial

Adjunctive Withania Somnifera (Ashwagandha) for Persistent Symptoms in People With Schizophrenia

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