NCT06562608

Anticholinergic Deprescription in Schizophrenia

Neural Mechanisms of Anticholinergic Burden in Mid- to Late-Life Schizophrenia Spectrum

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: Phase 4
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 105 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Deepak K. Sarpal, M.D. · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 40 Years – 70 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

In this study, the investigators will examine whether a deprescription of unnecessary anticholinergic drugs (benztropine or trihexyphenidyl) can augment quality of life, functioning, and neurocognition in individuals who with schizophrenia. Individuals identified by clinical services who have unneeded prescriptions benztropine or trihexyphenidyl will be eligible for deprescription and study entry. Following a baseline evaluation and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), participants will will be randomized to either staying on their anticholinergic drugs or undergoing deprescription per routine clinical care, and will undergo follow-up evaluations across 6 months. The investigators predict that reducing and deprescribing these drug, if clinically determined to be unnecessary will will enhance functioning, neurocognition

Conditions

• Schizophrenia
• Schizoaffective Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Anticholinergic Deprescription	per routine clinical care, people in the active arm of the study will undergo deprescription of benztropine or trihexyphenidyl per routine clinical care.
DRUG	No Anticholinergic Deprescription	In this arm, no deprescription of benztropine or trihexyphenidyl will occur.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-02-01
• Primary completion: 2028-12-31
• Completion: 2029-06-30
• First posted: 2024-08-20
• Last updated: 2026-02-09

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated drug study