Massachusetts General Hospital

Overview

The Psychopharmacology Lab has three primary research objectives:

Develop new medications to treat unresponsive symptoms

We research new medications to treat psychosis (hallucinations, delusions and disorganization), cognition (memory and attention) and negative symptoms (apathy, social withdrawal and loss of emotional expressiveness). The development of new treatments is guided by new findings in genetics and neuroimaging.

Improve existing medications

We seek to improve existing options through such strategies as combining medication, optimizing dosing and improving compliance.

Mitigate side effects and medical complications associated with these medications

We have made groundbreaking progress in understanding the mechanisms by which certain antipsychotics cause weight gain and may increase the risk for diabetes. We are looking at experimental alternatives that could prevent these side effects.

We also investigate how certain medications elevate prolactin and the long-term health consequences.

Group Members

• David C. Henderson, MD, Director
• Oliver Freudenreich, MD
• A. Eden Evins, MD, MPH

Research Projects

• The Partners genetics study of schizophrenia
• A placebo-controlled study of physiologic effects of L-methylfolate (Deplin) in schizophrenia patients (PDF)
• Clinical Assessment of Efficacy of Cognitive Remediation in Patients with Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder Stabilized on Lurasidone
  This is an open-label, double blind, 36-week research study to find out how lurasidone, a drug approved by the FDA to treat people with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, affects cognitive and functional outcomes when administered in conjunction with cognitive remediation therapy, as compared to a nonspecific mental activity control. Subjects stabilized on lurasidone are randomized to receive either cognitive remediation or a nonspecific mental activity control condition two times per week for a total of 30 sessions.
• EVP-6124 or placebo as an Adjunctive Pro-cognitive Treatment in Schizophrenia Subjects on Chronic Stable Atypical Antipsychotic Therapy
  This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel, 26-week, Phase 3 study of the pro-cognitive drug EVP-6124. The purpose of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of the study drug EVP-6124, versus the placebo, when added to chronic, stable, atypical antipsychotic therapy in subjects with schizophrenia.
• Cancer Care for Patients with Severe Mental Illness: a Retrospective Medical Record Review
  Recent studies have established that patients with severe mental illness experience higher cancer-related mortality. This disparity may be the result of not receiving appropriate and timely cancer care. This study aims to examine disparities in essential components of cancer care in a retrospective cohort of patients with preexisting psychotic disorders compared to patients with breast cancer or lung cancer alone who received treatment at a single comprehensive cancer center.
• Retrospective 20-year Medical Record Review of Patients taking clozaril (Clozapine)
  The atypical antipsychotic clozaril (Clozapine) has been associated with weight gain and increased metabolic risk in patients with schizophrenia. This study is a retrospective 20-year review of medical records for patients diagnosed with schizophrenia who have also been on clozaril, to better understand the metabolic and general health impact of long-term clozaril use.
• A Multicenter, Open-label Study to Assess Hospitalization Rates in Adult Schizophrenia Subjects Treated Prospectively for 6 Months with Aripiprazole IM Depot
  This study is a randomized, open label, 6 month study in which patients receive a monthly aripiprazole IM depot injection. The purpose of this study is to The goal of this study is to compare retrospective inpatient psychiatric hospitalization rates for subjects hospitalized while on standard of care treatment in comparison to patients on a monthly injection of aripiprazole. Additionally, we hope to further evaluate long-term safety and tolerability of aripiprazole IM depot.

View our most recent publications on PubMed

David C. Henderson, MD

Oliver Freudenreich, MD

A. Eden Evins, MD, MPH

Psychopharmacology Lab

Phone: 617-912-7800
Fax: 617-723-3919