Cholecystokinin-octapeptide in chronic schizophrenia: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

Antipsychotic properties of cholecystokinin have been suggested both in laboratory studies and in some open clinical trials, mainly in patients suffering from chronic schizophrenia. Eighteen patients (14 males, 4 females) meeting Research Diagnostic Criteria for schizophrenia had been receiving neuroleptics at a dosage that had not changed for 3 months, and to which the patients were at best only partially responsive. The patients were randomized into groups that received weekly intravenous injections of 10 micrograms of CCK-8 or normal saline over 8 weeks. Neuroleptic medication was unchanged for the study. Baseline and weekly assessments were carried out using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Schizophrenia Subscale of the Present State Examination (SS-PSE). Analysis of covariance revealed significant differences between CCK-8 and placebo over the study period on the Thought Disturbance Factor and Total Score of the BPRS, and on the Nuclear Syndrome, Total Delusion Factor, and Total Score of the SS-PSE. No important side effects were noted. It is concluded that CCK-8 has definite antipsychotic properties in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Clinical trials in neuroleptic-free patients are warranted.