Anti-inflammatories and Adolescent Schizophrenia

Effect of Anti-inflammatory Treatments on the Symptoms, Cognition, and Functioning of Adolescents With Schizophrenia

A double-blind controlled trial assessing the efficacy of anti-inflammatories on symptoms and cognition of adolescents with schizophrenia

Patients will be evaluated to confirm the diagnosis of schizophrenia, duration of the disease and record a history of atopic diseases or recurrent infections throughout life. The PANSS, PSP, and MCCB battery scales will be administered. A blood sample will be taken for the determination of markers of inflammation before the start of pharmacological treatment. Patients will start the antipsychotic medication assigned by their treating physician. They will also be assigned randomly to the treatment arm. The study drug will be provided by the research team under the presentation of capsules containing Celecoxib 200 mg, Minocycline 100 mg or Placebo, and patients will be instructed to take one capsule every 12 hrs daily. The patient will be reassessed with PANSS, PSP, and MCCB after completing 6 weeks of pharmacological treatment, type and dose of medication will be recorded and serum markers of inflammation will be determined again.

Change in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale score, which comprises 33 items which can be scored from 1 (absent) to 7 (extreme), evaluating an array of symptoms including positive, negative, neuromotor, depressive and anxious, and involves the use of data from patient reports, caregiver reports, and clinical observations. The total score is the sum or all the items, the maximum score is 231. The higher values represent a worse outcome

Change in MCCB scores. The MCCB is comprised of 9 tests that reflect 7 dimensions of neurocognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia, including: Speed of Processing, Attention/Vigilance, Working Memory, Verbal Learning, Visual Learning, and Reasoning and Problem Solving and Social Cognition. The MCCB scoring program yields the domain scores and a composite score which are standardized to the same T-score measurement scale with a mean of 50 and an SD of 10 based upon the normative data.

Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder. Patients in their first psychotic episode or previously diagnosed No specific pharmacological treatment (antipsychotic at therapeutic doses in regular doses) in the previous two weeks. Have a responsible parent or guardian. Exclusion Criteria: Active infection Chronic somatic diseases, including autoimmune diseases Comorbidity with anorexia, substance use disorders Pregnancy Use of anti-inflammatory medications or antibiotics