Comparison of Varenicline and Placebo for Smoking Cessation in Schizophrenia

University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB)

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 2

Conditions

Cigarette Smoking

Schizophrenia

Treatments

Drug: varenicline

Drug: placebo

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

NIH

Identifiers

NCT00554840

HP-00042225

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this proposed pilot study is to examine the use of varenicline in people with schizophrenia to specifically assess tolerability and efficacy for smoking cessation. Specifically, The primary objective of this pilot study is to determine if taking of varenicline along with an individual smoking cessation supportive program is a safe and effective treatment of nicotine addiction in schizophrenic patients. We hypothesize that the varenicline treated patients will achieve higher rates of smoking cessation than those who receive placebo and individual support.

Full description

The primary objective of the data analysis will be to measure the rate of smoking cessation in the two treatment groups. Smoking cessation will be measured weekly through a composite measure of self-reported abstinence, end expired carbon monoxide (CO) of less than C10 ppm and urine cotinine dipstick measure of < 30 ng/ml. The primary endpoint will be point prevalence at 12 weeks. The four week continuous abstinence rate for the last four weeks of the treatment phase will also be evaluated. The point prevalence abstinence rates will also be obtained. The secondary objective is to determine whether smoking cessation is associated with a worsening of cognition and psychiatric symptomology. We hypothesize that subjects who achieve abstinence in the varenicline group will not show worsening on neurocognitive and symptom measures compared to abstinence subjects in the placebo group. Lastly, we will attempt to identify any clinical or topographic markers which predict cessation.

Enrollment

16 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 64 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Age 18-64
Regular ten cigarette per day smoker for one year
Nicotine Dependency Score greater than or equal to four
DSM-IV Diagnosis of Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective disorder
Psychiatric medication regimen unchanged for at least 90 days
Psychiatric medication dosage unchanged for at least 30 days

Exclusion criteria

Psychiatric hospitalization in last 6 months
Meets criteria for current Major Depressive Disorder or has a score of greater than 10 on the Calgary Depression Scale (see withdrawal criteria)
Suicide or homicide ideation with a plan in the last six months
Life time history of suicide attempt
Has had a diagnosis of Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective disorder for less than three years
Current treatment with Bupropion SR
DSM-IV diagnosis of alcohol or substance dependence within last 6 months*
DSM-IV diagnosis of alcohol or substance abuse within three months *
Pregnancy or lactation in females (+HCG)
Use of tobacco product other than cigarettes
Use of nicotine replacements
Unstable or serious medical condition in last 6 months
Regular use of cimetidine (OTC or Rx) *Substance abuse/dependency exclusions do not apply to abuse of or dependence on nicotine.