Psychopharmacology
Many different aspects of medications for schizophrenia are being studied by researchers in the MGH Schizophrenia Program. Research studies are being conducted in three main areas:
- Developing new medications to improve unresponsive symptoms
- Improving how existing medications are used
- Examining side effects and medical complications caused by these medications
Our group is focused on identifying new medications that improve psychosis (hallucinations, delusions and disorganization), cognition (memory and attention) and negative symptoms (apathy, social withdrawal and loss of emotional expressiveness). The MGH Schizophrenia Program pioneered the development of agents acting on the glutamate neurotransmitter system for treatment of cognitive deficits and negative symptoms and continues to build upon this work in the examination of novel medications. As a participant in the NIMH-funded Treatment Units for Research in the Neuroscience of Schizophrenia (TURNS) program, we collaborate with other prominent schizophrenia research programs in the examination of new medications designed to enhance memory and attention in schizophrenia.
Improvement in the use of currently available medications includes studies that focus on combinations of medications, on methods to optimize dosing, and approaches to better understand and remedy the common problem of noncompliance or partial compliance with medications among individuals with schizophrenia.
Pharmacological research related to our Smoking Cessation and Weight Loss and Diabetes Prevention Programs investigates the medical side effects of currently available drugs and examines the use of medications to prevent or improve medical complications in our patients. This includes pioneering work investigating the mechanisms by which certain antipsychotics cause weight gain and may increase the risk for diabetes. We are also investigating the mechanism by which certain medications elevate prolactin and determining whether there are long-term health consequences of prolactin elevation. Experimental approaches involving medications are also being studied to facilitate smoking cessation and to prevent weight gain and diabetes.
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