Guanfacine treatment of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia
Open accessAbstract
Norepinephrine plays a significant role in the working memory functions of the prefrontal cortex by its actions at alpha-2a noradrenergic receptors. Guanfacine has demonstrated efficacy in reversing working memory deficits in non-human primate. In the present study the effect of guanfacine adjunctive treatment to neuroleptics on the cognitive performance of schizophrenic patients was investigated in a four week, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel design trial. The primary analyses revealed no significant differences between guanfacine and placebo treatment; however, exploratory non-parametric statistics revealed some significant and some trend differences between guanfacine and placebo on spatial working memory test performance and CPT reaction time in those subjects treated with atypical neuroleptics.
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An early study suggested guanfacine may be helpful in patients with schizophrenia who are still in early, but not later stages of the disease.
“An early study suggested that guanfacine may be helpful in patients with schizophrenia who are still in early, but not later stages of the disease (Friedman et al., 2001).”
From Guanfacine’s mechanism of action in treating prefrontal cortical disorders: Successful translation across species (2020) · cites this paper as Friedman et al., 2001
The Conclusions suggest a possible cognitive benefit from guanfacine in patients also taking risperidone, based on exploratory analyses. They do not distinguish early from later stages of schizophrenia; the Results report mean illness durations of about 24–26 years, not an early-stage cohort. The primary analyses found no significant overall benefit. (LLM, conf=0.87)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAdjunct guanfacine to schizophrenia patients treated with risperidone produced mild improvements in working memory compared to risperidone alone.
“adjunct administration of guanfacine to schizophrenia patients being treated with risperidone produced mild improvements in working memory as compared to treatment with risperidone alone (Friedman et al 2001).”
From Prefrontal cortex executive processes affected by stress in health and disease (2018) · cites this paper as Friedman et al 2001
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References 49 · Cited by 113
Research works printed but not linked: 5
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- Goldman-Rakic P (1991): Prefrontal cortical dysfunction in schizophrenia: the relevance of working memory. In Carroll BJ, Barrett JE (eds), Psychopathology and the Brain. New York, Raven Press, pp 1-23
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- Authors
- Friedman, J.
- Affiliations
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (US)
- Corresponding author
- Friedman, J
- ORCID
- Friedman, J
- Venue
- Neuropsychopharmacology
- Published
- 2001-09
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 402-409
- ISSN
- 0893-133X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2012334114
- Cited by
- 113
- References
- 49
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 7 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 3.44
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Neuropsychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Keywords
- guanfacine, schizophrenia, cognitive impairment, working memory, norepinephrine, alpha2A-adrenergic receptor, atypical antipsychotics, adjunctive therapy, spatial working memory, continuous performance test, reaction time
- MeSH terms
- Adrenergic alpha-Agonists, Adult, Cognition Disorders, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Reaction Time, Schizophrenia, Schizophrenic Psychology, Antipsychotic Agents, Guanfacine, Prefrontal Cortex, Risperidone
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