Active clinical trials for "Mental Disorders"

Weight gain associated with antipsychotic medication use is a major side effect that limits the tolerability of these drugs. This often significant weight gain adversely affects health, increasing risks for developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, cancers of the colon, kidneys, uterus, endometrium and esophagus and osteoarthritis. Beasley and colleagues (1997) reported that 40.5% of olanzapine-treated patients gained more than 7% of baseline weight. Much of the olanzapine induced weight gain occurs early in treatment, and antipsychotic-naïve and young patients (Woods et al., 2002) are particularly vulnerable to this side effect. One of the most promising medications to aid weight loss in patients taking olanzapine is amantadine. Attempts at preventing weight gain are expected to be more successful than attempts to reverse it once it occurs. It is now common clinical practice to educate all patients beginning treatment with olanzapine, and other antipsychotics, about healthy eating and the need for exercise. However, despite this effort, weight gain in this population continues. Beginning a weight-stabilizing medication after a low threshold of weight gain has occurred may have significant impact on patients' health and their willingness to continue to take antipsychotics. We propose to investigate the efficacy of amantadine as a weight-stabilizing agent in a population of first-episode psychotic subjects just beginning treatment with antipsychotic agents. This population is generally young and medically healthy, without contraindications to amantadine. They are often of normal body mass index and without obesity-related medical problems. They have much to gain in preventing the weight gain which so often progresses steadily over the course of treatment, is difficult to reverse and results in significant morbidity and mortality. Additionally, the first episode psychotic population tends to take fewer concomitant psychiatric medications. This is important since these medications may cause weight gain (long term use of mirtazapine, lithium, depakote) or weight loss (short term use of SSRI's) which could confound the effectiveness of amantadine to combat weight gain.

This randomized controlled trial examined whether an abbreviated treatment using abstinence contingency management for housing and work/training (CM, n=103) with cocaine dependent, non-psychotic, dually diagnosed homeless persons, would show non-inferior outcomes compared to the full treatment (CM+, n=103). It was hypothesized that CM+ would show superior abstinence and retention outcomes, but that CM, with components derived from previously effective behavioral day treatment, would obtain non-inferior outcomes, defined as 75% or more of those observed for the full treatment (CM+) during active treatment months 1-6. The CM+ included all CM components but added behavioral day treatment that included voucher reinforcement of $7.50-15.00, for objective weekly therapeutic goal attainment in five domains of functioning: drug dependence, homelessness, unemployment, non-drug related recreational activities, and behavioral, health, or mental health problems. Abstinence was assessed by observed urine specimen collection and weekly testing weeks 1-52, and randomly, bi-monthly for months 13-18. Abstinence, homelessness, employment and other outcomes were also assessed at baseline, 2, 6, 12, and 18 months.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether Vitamin B12,B6 and Folic Acid are effective with antipsychotic medication in the treatment of First Episode Psychosis.The B-complex Vitamins' homocysteine lowering properties may have an effect on cognition and symptoms. We are examining changes in symptoms and cognition over a 3 month period.

The primary purpose of this study is to document the long-term safety of an oral formulation of risperidone in the treatment of children and adolescents with conduct and other disruptive behavior disorders. Data on the efficacy of the drug will also be collected. Only patients who were enrolled in the previous related study would be eligible to participate.

The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of topiramate compared with placebo in the treatment of acute manic or mixed episodes in patients with Bipolar I Disorder.

This study will compare standard individualized care to person-centered care and community-integrating care for treating psychosis in adults of Hispanic or African descent.

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of different doses of risperidone (an antipsychotic medication) compared with placebo and with a fixed 20 mg/day dose of a standard antipsychotic, haloperidol, in patients with chronic schizophrenia.

We evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of duloxetine in the treatment of major depressive episodes during the course of psychotic disorders

This is a 9 week, multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with two parallel groups. There is also an open-label extension phase of 18 weeks. Both medications to be used in the study, clozapine and risperidone, are fully approved for the treatment of schizophrenia.

This study will determine the effectiveness of the Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model in reducing the severity of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in women with mental disorders and who have experienced sexual or physical abuse.