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1: Am J Psychiatry. 2003 Dec;160(12):2234-6.Click here to read Links

Reduction of symptoms by valacyclovir in cytomegalovirus-seropositive individuals with schizophrenia.

Dickerson FB, Boronow JJ, Stallings CR, Origoni AE, Yolken RH.

Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Johns Hopkins University, Blalock 1105, 600 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21287-4933, USA.

OBJECTIVE: The study was an investigation of the effect of the antiviral medication valacyclovir on the symptoms of outpatients with persistent schizophrenia. METHOD: Oral valacyclovir, 1 g twice daily, was administered to 65 outpatients over 16 weeks along with their usual psychiatric medications. Changes in psychiatric symptoms were measured with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and were tested for correlations with antibodies to potentially neurotropic human herpesviruses, as measured by immunoassay before the start of the therapy. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in the psychiatric symptoms of individuals who were seropositive for cytomegalovirus. Improvement was not associated with antibodies to other herpesviruses or to a range of demographic and clinical variables. CONCLUSIONS: The replication of cytomegalovirus may contribute to the symptoms of schizophrenia in some individuals.

PMID: 14638597 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Patient Drug Information

  • Acyclovir (Zovirax® )

    Acyclovir is used to decrease pain and speed the healing of sores or blisters in people who have varicella (chickenpox), herpes zoster (shingles; a rash that can occur in people who have had chickenpox in the past), and ...

  • Valacyclovir (Valtrex® Caplets)

    Valacyclovir is used to treat herpes zoster (shingles) and genital herpes. It does not cure herpes infections but decreases pain and itching, helps sores to heal, and prevents new ones from forming.

  • Source: AHFS Consumer Medication Information