Schizophrenia: Can Cognitive Function be Enhanced?
NIMH investigates the effects of medications on cognition

Individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia often have difficulties concentrating and remembering. Sometimes they have trouble formulating a plan or following it through step by step. Scientists who study brain function at the National Institute of Mental Health believe that these difficulties are related to cognitive functions that have been impaired after the onset of schizophrenia.

NIMH is conducting inpatient research trials using FDA- approved medications known to influence the cognitive functions of the brain for disorders other than schizophrenia. The question remains whether medications could have an effect on the memory and general cognitive abilities of an individual with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Researchers are also interested in studying how genes may influence the effect that these medications might have on individuals’ cognitive abilities.

Participants do not stop taking their current medication(s); they merely participate in a research trial in which the cognitive enhancing medication is added to their current medication regimen. Neuropsychological testing and a functional MRI (fMRI) are conducted during the medication trial. Neuropsychological testing measures the effectiveness of the medication and the fMRI records any physiological activity in the brain.

These trials last 3 or 5 weeks depending on the protocol but participants may stay up to 12 weeks at the NIMH Schizophrenia Research Program in order to complete comprehensive medical, psychiatric, neurological and pharmacological evaluations to determine eligibility to participate in the study. Once the research medication trial is complete, the individual stays in the research program so that the clinical team can complete all evaluations, treatment assessments and discharge planning.

Participants diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder must be adults between the ages of 18 and 50, be free of extensive alcohol and/or drug abuse, and have no history of a major medical condition. This inpatient research program is located on the campus of the NIH in Bethesda, Maryland. There is no charge for participation. In addition, there is compensation for research participation.

For more information, call the NIMH Schizophrenia Program Referral Line at 1-888-674-6464 or 301-435-8970 (TTY:1-866-411-1010) or email Schizophrenia@mail.nih.gov. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the Department of Health and Human Services.