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COX-2 inhibitors as adjunctive therapy in schizophrenia: rationale for use and evidence to date

Michael Riedel1, Martin Strassnig, Markus J Schwarz

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilan University of Munich, Munich, Germany.

CNS Drugs
|September 28, 2005
PubMed

A better understanding of the human immune system and its complex interactions has resulted in new insights into the pathoaetiological mechanisms of psychiatric disorders. As a result, new treatment options are being explored. Several findings suggest that an imbalanced immune response is involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. COX-2 inhibitors are known to influence the immune system in a way that may redirect this imbalance. Based on these suggestions, the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib has been tested as a possible adjunctive therapeutic approach in the treatment of schizophrenia. While the first trial using celecoxib as add-on therapy to an atypical antipsychotic showed a significant beneficial effect, recent studies demonstrated that this effect may be limited to patients with recent-onset schizophrenia.

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