A randomized placebo-controlled pilot study of pravastatin as an adjunctive therapy in schizophrenia patients: Effect on inflammation, psychopathology, cognition and lipid metabolism

• Published in: Schizophrenia research Vol. 159; no. 2; pp. 395 - 403
• Main Authors: Vincenzi, Brenda, Stock, Shannon, Borba, Christina P.C, Cleary, Sarah M, Oppenheim, Claire E, Petruzzi, Liana J, Fan, Xiaoduo, Copeland, Paul M, Freudenreich, Oliver, Cather, Corinne, Henderson, David C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.11.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Anticholesteremic Agents - administration & dosage; Anticholesteremic Agents - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; C-reactive protein; Cognition Disorders - drug therapy; Cognitive functioning; Drug Synergism; Female; Glucose metabolism; Humans; Inflammation; Inflammation - drug therapy; Lipid Metabolism - drug effects; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Pravastatin - administration & dosage; Pravastatin - pharmacology; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychoses; Psychosis; Psychotic Disorders - drug therapy; Psychotic Disorders - immunology; Psychotic Disorders - metabolism; Psychotic Disorders - physiopathology; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenia - drug therapy; Schizophrenia - immunology; Schizophrenia - metabolism; Schizophrenia - physiopathology; Statins; Treatment Outcome; Psychosis; Glucose metabolism; Inflammation; C-reactive protein; Cognitive functioning; Statins; Cognitive ability; Adjuvant treatment; Schizophrenia; Lipids; Cognition; Glucose; Hypocholesterolemic agent; Pravastatin; HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor; Psychopathology; C reactive protein; Human; Enzyme; Enzyme inhibitor; Controlled therapeutic trial; Statin derivative; Metabolism; Placebo; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase; Oxidoreductases; Antilipemic agent
• ISSN: 0920-9964; 1573-2509
• DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2014.08.021

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the role of pravastatin, as an adjunctive therapy, on inflammatory markers, lipid and glucose metabolism, psychopathology, and cognition in subjects with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Methods Schizophrenia or schizoaffective subjects (N = 60) were randomized to receive either a 12-week supply of pravastatin 40 mg/day or placebo treatment. Anthropometric measures, lipids and glucose metabolism, inflammatory markers, psychopathology and cognitive performance were assessed at baseline, 6 weeks and 12 weeks. Results Pravastatin use was associated with a significant decrease in total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and LDL particle number levels, but was not associated with any significant changes in cognition or psychopathology in the participants, except a significant decrease in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) positive symptom score from baseline to week 6. However, this decrease failed to remain significant at 12 weeks. Interestingly, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, LDL particle number, small LDL particle number, large very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) particle number and C-reactive protein (CRP) followed a similar pattern at 6 and 12 weeks as psychopathology. Conclusions These results suggest that a randomized trial with a larger sample size and a higher dosage of pravastatin would be helpful in further evaluating the anti-inflammatory properties of pravastatin, its association with improvements in cognitive symptoms, and its potential to reduce positive and negative symptoms associated with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders.