Prednisolone versus placebo addition in the treatment of patients with recent-onset psychotic disorder: a trial design
- Nasib, L.G. (Lyliana G.)
- Sommer, I.E. (Iris E.)
- Winter-van Rossum, I. (Inge)
- de Vries, J. (Jacqueline)
- Gangadin, S.S. (Shiral S.)
- Oomen, P.P. (Priscilla P.)
- Judge, G. (Gurmeet)
- Blom, R.E. (Renske E.)
- Luykx, J.J. (Jurjen J.)
- Beveren, N.J.M. (Nico) van
- Veen, N.D. (Natalie D.)
- Kroken, R.A. (Rune A.)
- Johnsen, E.L. (Erik L.)
DOIAbstract
BACKGROUND: The symptom severity of a substantial group of schizophrenia patients (30-40%) does not improve through pharmacotherapy with antipsychotic medication, indicating a clear need for new treatment options to improve schizophrenia outcome. Meta-analyses, genetic studies, randomized controlled trials, and post-mortem studies suggest that immune dysregulation plays a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Some anti-inflammatory drugs have shown beneficial effects on the symptom severity of schizophrenia patients. Corticosteroids are effective in various chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Prednisolone, a potent glucocorticosteroid, has minor mineral-corticosteroid potencies and can adequately pass the blood-brain barr...