Many see schizophrenia, a devastating brain disorder, as an illness that causes hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions. However, the disease is also characterized by cognitive deficits that cause an inability to think, learn, remember, and concentrate. More than 2 million in the US suffer from schizophrenia, and 75% of these experience cognitive dysfunction.

Cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia have a significant impact on a person’s ability to function at home, work, and school. Many medications are available to treat the hallucinations and delusions, but there is currently no medication available to treat cognitive dysfunction from schizophrenia.

Targacept has been working to develop medications that meet this need. Their latest product, TC-5619, binds the alpha-7 neuronal nicotinic receptor (NNR), which is involved in normal cognitive brain function.

The multi-center Phase 2 clinical proof of concept trial is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, parallel group study conducted at seven sites in the United States and twelve sites in India. Nearly 200 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and taking either the antipsychotic, quetiapine (Seroquel®) or risperidone (Risperdal®) were enrolled in the study.

Volunteers were randomly assigned to receive either TC-5619 or placebo together with their prescribed antipsychotic for 12 weeks. Patients receiving TC-5619 were administered 1 mg daily dose for the first four weeks, 5 mg daily for the next four weeks, and 25 mg daily dose for the last four weeks. Before the study started, patients from both groups were given the GMLT (Groton Maze Learning Test), a computerized assessment of their cognitive function.

This test was then administered at three separate times during the course of the 12 week treatment period. Study investigators looked for a change in patients’ GMLT scores from baseline.

TC-5619 was considered superior to placebo if their was an improvement in GMLT scores following treatment and that improvement was significantly different from the GMLT scores observed with placebo. Not only did the study see improvement in GMLT scores with TC-5619, but these improvements were noted at two of the three measurement dates (at 4 weeks and 12 weeks).

There were no differences in adverse events associated with placebo and TC-5619. The most frequent adverse event was mild to moderate nausea (5%); this nausea did not cause patients to dropout of the study. Targacept plans to release detailed information about study results later this year.

There are a wide number of other therapies and treatment regimens being evaluated to improve the quality of life for people suffering from schizophrenia.

People with this type of personality disorder are unable to socialize with others and are perceived as possibly being unfriendly. They isolate themselves and cultivate false beliefs about how relationships develop. Their behaviours are often very strange, delivering improper responses in social situations, and fostering bizarre beliefs.

The onset of this disorder commonly starts in young adults and continues all through life. No cure exists, but can be managed with the help of psychotherapy and medications. Studies indicate that positive events during early childhood can help to decrease symptoms experienced by young people who suffer from this disorder.

What are the symptoms:

Schizotypal personalities are often people who spend most of their time alone and have very few friends, if any at all. They find themselves feeling anxious in the company of others, due to trust issues, and feel they do not belong in the main stream.

They have problems similar to schizophrenia, which include:

- Strange and disordered speech
- Dresses oddly
- Abnormal view of the world
- Believe they have the power to emotionally control others

Adolescents may exhibit signs of:

- Isolation and solitude
- Extreme social anxiety
- Socially delayed in relation to peer group
- They are often picked on and bullied by others.

Other common symptoms include:

- Difficulty correctly interpreting events
- Odd beliefs and behaviour patterns
- Believe they possess special powers
- Complaints of phantom pain
- Incoherent speech patterns
- Paranoia
- Little or no friends
- Intense anxiety in social situations

The schizotypal personality may be similar to shizophrenia, but is not as extreme. In addition, people with this personality disorder are able distinguish between reality and imagination, while those with schizophrenia have lost touch with reality and cannot discern reality from what they imagine.

Causes:

The cause of this mental disorder is unknown, but being abused and neglected during childhood, stress, and having a close relative with this disorder may be factors. People with schizotypal personalities are also at risk for developing schizophrenia, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, and other associated mental conditions.

Treatment:

Treatment for this condition usually involves antipsychotic medications to control symptoms, and psychotherapy sessions with a trained mental health professional. Sessions and activities may include behavioural, cognitive, and family therapies.

Families are encouraged to actively participate in attending sessions and offering their loved one the needed support in learning new skills to cope with schizotypal personality disorder.