• Home
  • Store
    • Newsletter Subscriptions
    • Multimedia
    • Books
    • eBooks
    • ABPN SA Courses
    • Social Work Courses
  • CME Center
  • Multimedia
    • Podcast
    • Webinars
    • Blog
    • Psychiatry News Videos
    • Medication Guide Videos
  • Newsletters
    • General Psychiatry
    • Child Psychiatry
    • Addiction Treatment
    • Hospital Psychiatry
    • Geriatric Psychiatry
    • Psychotherapy and Social Work
  • FAQs
  • Med Fact Book App
  • Log In
  • Register
  • Welcome
  • Sign Out
  • Subscribe
Home » A new study dampens glutamine enthusiasm

A new study dampens glutamine enthusiasm

November 1, 2007
From The Carlat Psychiatry Report
Issue Links: Learning Objectives | Editorial Information | PDF of Issue
Rebecca W. Brendel, MD, JD

Because standard antipsychotics don’t do much for the negative symptoms of schizophrenia (such as affective flattening and paucity of speech), there has been a fair amount of interest in the so-called “hypoglutaminergic hypothesis” of schizo- phrenia. This was first prompted by the observation that the recreational drugs PCP (angel dust) and ketamine (the date rape drug) can cause shizophrenia-like symptoms in abusers. Both drugs block NMDA glutamine receptors; this prompted some small positive studies of glycine and cycloserine in schizophrenics, both of which stimulate glutaminergic neuro- transmission.

These results led to the large CONSIST trial, in which 165 patients with schizophre- nia or schizoaffective disorder were ran- domly assigned to glycine, D-cycloserine, or placebo. But after 16 weeks of treat- ment, there were no differences in either negative symptoms or cognitive symptoms among the three treatments (Buchanan RW et al., Am J Psychiatry 2007;164:1593- 1602).

TCPR’s Take: These results are very disappointing and essentially put the kai- bosh on development of these particular agents for schizophrenia. Trying to redeem the results, the researchers point out that the glycine dose used was rather low (0.7 mg/kg. as opposed to two positive studies that used 0.8 mg/kg). Nonetheless, don’t expect to see either of these compounds being marketed any time soon.

General Psychiatry
KEYWORDS antipsychotics
    www.thecarlatreport.com
    Issue Date: November 1, 2007
    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    Table Of Contents
    Good Forensic Habits for your Practice
    Topics in Confidentiality and Duty to Warn
    Varying symptom profiles of depression correlated with specific triggering events
    A new study dampens glutamine enthusiasm
    Walmart includes more psychiatric meds at $4/month
    Topiramate (Topamax) is somewhat effective for alcohol dependence, but heavy on side effects
    The Tarasoff case
    DOWNLOAD NOW
    Featured Book
    • MFB7e_Print_App_Access.png

      Medication Fact Book for Psychiatric Practice, Seventh Edition (2024) - Regular Bound Book

      The updated 2024 reference guide covering the most commonly prescribed medications in psychiatry.
      READ MORE
    Featured Video
    • KarXT (Cobenfy)_ The Breakthrough Antipsychotic That Could Change Everything.jpg
      General Psychiatry

      KarXT (Cobenfy): The Breakthrough Antipsychotic That Could Change Everything

      Read More
    Featured Podcast
    • shutterstock_2622607431.jpg
      General Psychiatry

      Should You Test MTHFR?

      MTHFR is a...
      Listen now
    Recommended
    • Join Our Writing Team

      July 18, 2024
      WriteForUs.png
    • Insights About a Rare Transmissible Form of Alzheimer's Disease

      February 9, 2024
      shutterstock_2417738561_PeopleImages.com_Yuri A.png
    • How to Fulfill the DEA's One Time, 8-Hour Training Requirement for Registered Practitioners

      May 24, 2024
      DEA_Checkbox.png
    • Join Our Writing Team

      July 18, 2024
      WriteForUs.png
    • Insights About a Rare Transmissible Form of Alzheimer's Disease

      February 9, 2024
      shutterstock_2417738561_PeopleImages.com_Yuri A.png
    • How to Fulfill the DEA's One Time, 8-Hour Training Requirement for Registered Practitioners

      May 24, 2024
      DEA_Checkbox.png
    • Join Our Writing Team

      July 18, 2024
      WriteForUs.png
    • Insights About a Rare Transmissible Form of Alzheimer's Disease

      February 9, 2024
      shutterstock_2417738561_PeopleImages.com_Yuri A.png
    • How to Fulfill the DEA's One Time, 8-Hour Training Requirement for Registered Practitioners

      May 24, 2024
      DEA_Checkbox.png

    About

    • About Us
    • CME Center
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us

    Shop Online

    • Newsletters
    • Multimedia Subscriptions
    • Books
    • eBooks
    • ABPN Self-Assessment Courses

    Newsletters

    • The Carlat Psychiatry Report
    • The Carlat Child Psychiatry Report
    • The Carlat Addiction Treatment Report
    • The Carlat Hospital Psychiatry Report
    • The Carlat Geriatric Psychiatry Report
    • The Carlat Psychotherapy Report

    Contact

    carlat@thecarlatreport.com

    866-348-9279

    PO Box 626, Newburyport MA 01950

    Follow Us

    Please see our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, Subscription Agreement, Use of Cookies, and Hardware/Software Requirements to view our website.

    © 2025 Carlat Publishing, LLC and Affiliates, All Rights Reserved.