Methotrexate showed promising effects on the positive symptoms of early schizophrenia like auditory and visual hallucinations. AFP
A study by clinical scientists at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom has shown that schizophrenia may – in some part – be caused by disordered functioning of the immune system.
The first ever clinical trial in schizophrenia of the powerful immune suppressant drug, methotrexate, produced what the team described as “promising” effects on what are known as positive symptoms, such as hearing voices.
Though the team stress the sample size was too small to show if methotrexate could work as an add-on treatment for schizophrenia, they found a “puzzling” therapeutic effect on symptoms of early schizophrenia.
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