NCT02011750

Pilot Trial of Valproate as Adjunctive Treatment for Toxoplasma Gondii Infection in Early Course Schizophrenia

Pilot Trial of Valproate as Adjunctive Treatment for Toxoplasma Gondii

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 4
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 109 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 50 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This is an exploratory study in Egypt that will combine a treatment trial among early course schizophrenia (ECSZ) patients with key analyses suggested by rodent studies. Specifically, the study will test the provocative results from animal studies indicating an impact of Toxoplasma Gondii (TOX) exposure on novelty seeking. The study will also test whether exposure to TOX is associated with other cognitive and behavioral changes, as well as changes in overall social function. We will also explore the relative efficacy of Sodium Valproate (Depakote, DEP) in improving clinical and overall social function among TOX exposed and unexposed patients. Hypotheses 1. At baseline, TOX exposure is associated with increased novelty seeking, clinical severity, and impaired cognitive and overall social function in patients with SZ. 2. Adjunctive DEP treatment improves clinical symptoms, cognitive and social function in SZ, particularly among TOX exposed SZ patients. 3. Exploratory hypothesis: adjunctive DEP reduces serological indices of TOX infection (VIP and TH levels).

Conditions

• Toxoplasmosis
• Schizophrenia

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Sodium Valproate treatment	Sodium Valproate treatment:During the entry period, all patients will have a placebo run-in for two weeks after which they will be evaluated for the outcome variables and then randomized to either Sodium Valproate (Depakote, DEP) or placebo (PLA) group in a 1:1 proportion. For the Sodium Valproate treatment group, this will be followed by a two week period to adjust the dose of DEP and attain therapeutic levels (50-100 µg/mL). Then DEP treatment will continue for 16 more weeks, after which DEP will be discontinued. Subject will be followed up for four weeks post-DEP discontinuation to monitor delayed adverse side effects.
DRUG	Placebo	Placebo: During the entry period, all patients will have a placebo run-in for two weeks after which they will be evaluated for the outcome variables and then randomized to either the experimental Sodium Valproate (Depakote, or DEP) or placebo (PLA) group in a 1:1 proportion. For the PLA group, this will be followed by a two week period of placebo during which members of the experimental Sodium Valproate (Depakote/DEP) will have DEP dose adjusted to attain therapeutic levels (50-100 µg/mL). Then PLA treatment will continue for 16 more weeks. Subjects will be followed up for four weeks post PLA-discontinuation to monitor for delayed adverse side effects.

Timeline

• Start date: 2013-04-01
• Primary completion: 2017-10-30
• Completion: 2017-12-31
• First posted: 2013-12-13
• Last updated: 2018-02-14

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Egypt