High-Dose Oral Ziprasidone Versus Conventional Dosing in Participants With Residual Schizophrenia Symptoms (HDZ)
Schizophrenia

About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Schizophrenia focused on measuring Schizophrenia
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective disorder, any subtype
- Age 18-65 years
- Treated with ziprasidone at a dose of 160 mg/d for at least 3 weeks with adequate compliance
- Concomitant standing or other medications as needed (except other antipsychotics and those noted as contraindicated in the ziprasidone package insert) are permitted during all treatment phases if they were present at a stable dose for at least 6 weeks prior to the start of initial ziprasidone treatment
- A score of 4 (moderate) or greater on any of the 7 items of the PANSS Positive Symptom Subscale
- Clinical judgment by the investigator that doses higher than 160 mg/day are warranted due to suboptimal clinical outcome despite adequate treatment at that dose
- Participant is judged capable of understanding all relevant risks and potential benefits of the study and has signed informed consent
- Comorbid axis 1 conditions (including anxiety disorders, eating disorders, impulse control disorders) are permitted if they have been stable and have not been a primary focus of treatment over the previous 6 months
Exclusion Criteria:
- Past or current intolerance of ziprasidone side effects
- Presence of significant cardiac disease, including uncompensated congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction within the past 6 months or known history of congenital long QT interval syndrome
- Corrected QT interval (QTc) greater than or equal to 500 milliseconds (msec)
- Serum potassium and magnesium concentrations outside of normal limits.
- Currently taking any medications which may affect cardiac conduction
- Presence of any unstable or untreated medical disorder
- Any history of seizures or seizure disorder other than febrile seizures of childhood
- History of positive hepatitis B surface antigen
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive or has diagnosis of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
- Any abnormal laboratory test that is judged to be clinically significant by the investigator
- History of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), hypersensitivity or allergic response to antipsychotic therapy, including ziprasidone
- History of clozapine treatment for refractory psychotic symptoms
- Alcohol or substance dependence within the past 12 months or abuse within the past 3 months. Any subject with positive urine toxicology or alcohol use that is considered abnormal at baseline.
- Clinically significant suicidal or homicidal behavior or attempts within past 6 months
- Any subject judged by the investigator to present a danger to self or others.
- Women of childbearing potential who are not using adequate contraception (oral contraceptives, barrier methods or who are clearly abstinent)
- Pregnancy or breast-feeding
- Any subject who is judged by the investigator to be unable or unlikely to comply with all study requirements, including adherence with prescribed medication regimen
Sites / Locations
- Medical College of Georgia
- Corrigan Mental Health Center
- Touchstone innovare
- University of New Mexico
- SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- The Lieber Center for Schizophrenia Research - Columbia University
- Nathan Kline Institute
- Duke University - John Umstead Hospital
- The Mech Center
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Placebo Comparator
High-Dose Ziprasidone
Placebo, Standard Treatment Ziprasidone
Participants with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who remain symptomatic despite treatment with ziprasidone 160 mg/d for at least 3 weeks will be instructed to take ziprasidone oral capsule twice daily added to their regular open-label ziprasidone dose (total of 240 mg/d). After the first week, the study drug will be increased to a total ziprasidone dose of 320 mg/d for 7 weeks.
Participants with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who remain symptomatic despite treatment with ziprasidone 160 mg/d for at least 3 weeks will be instructed to take matching placebo oral capsule twice daily added to their regular open-label ziprasidone dose of 160 mg/d. After the first week, the matching placebo will be increased to two capsules twice daily and their regular open-label ziprasidone will remain the same (160 mg/d) for 7 weeks.