A Randomized Double Blind Clinical Trial in Famotidine Adjuvant Therapy in Schizophrenia

Background: about 40%-60% of schizophrenic patients areresistant to ordinary treatment, which result from interferencewith different neurotransmitter systems in the process of disease.the aim of present study was to determine the effect offamotidine on several symptoms of schizophrenia which wasnonresponsive to neuroleptic treatment.methods: 30 schizophrenic patients previously nonresponsiveto ordinary treatment were categorized into two groups. famotidinegroup received perphenazine plus famotidine and placebogroup received perfenazine plus a placebo. patients inboth groups were followed for 6 weeks and assessed by thepositive and negative symptom scales (panss) at weeks 0, 2and 6 of the treatment.results: both groups were similar in terms of positive andnegative symptoms. in the placebo group, the total scores ofpanss (severity of the disease) did not change significantly.however, based on the total scores of panss, there was asignificant difference between both famotidine and placebogroups at the end of sixth week (p(less than)0.05). in terms of generalpsychopathology scale and aggressive risk, there was also asignificant difference between both famotidine and controlgroups at the end of sixth week.conclusion: famotidine can improve the symptoms of schizophrenicpatients who were not responsive to neuroleptics.