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Quetiapine and the Dopaminergic Epigenetic Control

Phase 4
Completed
Conditions
Schizophrenia
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT00370500
Lead Sponsor
University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Medical School
Brief Summary

BACKGROUND:

Epigenetic modifications such as DNA-methylation and histone acetylation are known to be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Aim of the present study is to investigate

1. whether differences in the methylation pattern of the promoters of dopaminergic genes exist between schizophrenic patients and healthy controls and

2. whether treatment with the second generation antipsychotic quetiapine leads to changes in the methylation pattern of those genes in patients suffering from schizophrenia.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:

50 male patients and 50 male controls are to be enrolled into the study. Patients will be treated with quetiapine for 3 weeks. Blood samples will be drawn before treatment and after three weeks to measure DNA-methylation status. Clinical characterisation includes PANSS, AIMS, BDI. Healthy probands will not be treated.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Male
Target Recruitment
100
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
AQuetiapine fumarateThere is only one arm in this study. All probands receive quetiapine.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Primary variable is the amount of methylated vs. unmethylated promoter specific DNA in the DAT gene of patients before and after treatment with quetiapine (within group comparison).6 month
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Erlangen-Nuremberg

🇩🇪

Erlangen, Germany

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