It sounds like more research is needed on D-Cycloserine as a possible add-on treatment for schizophrenia and anxiety:
Results:
Following a series of small-scale studies (on d-cycloserine) offering strong support for this clinical application, more recent larger-scale studies have yielded mixed results, with some showing weak or no effects. … We also review recent studies that have aimed to extend the work on d-cycloserine augmentation of exposure therapy for the anxiety disorders to enhancement of learning-based interventions for addiction, anorexia nervosa, schizophrenia, and depression.
Source:
MW Otto, MA Kredlow, JAJ Smits, SG Hofmann, DF Tolin, RA de Kleine, A van Minnen, AE Evins and MH Pollack,
Biological psychiatry , 2016 15 08
Advances in the understanding of the neurobiology of fear extinction have resulted in the development of d-cycloserine (DCS), a partial glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate agonist, as an augmentation strategy for exposure treatment. We review a decade of research that has focused on the efficacy of DCS for augmenting the mechanisms (e.g., fear extinction) and outcome of exposure treatment across the anxiety disorders. Following a series of small-scale studies offering strong support for this clinical application, more recent larger-scale studies have yielded mixed results, with some showing weak or no effects. We discuss possible explanations for the mixed findings, pointing to both patient and session (i.e., learning experiences) characteristics as possible moderators of efficacy, and offer directions for future research in this area. We also review recent studies that have aimed to extend the work on DCS augmentation of exposure therapy for the anxiety disorders to DCS enhancement of learning-based interventions for addiction, anorexia nervosa, schizophrenia, and depression. Here, we attend to both DCS effects on facilitating therapeutic outcomes and additional therapeutic mechanisms beyond fear extinction (e.g., appetitive extinction, hippocampal-dependent learning).
More on D-Cycloserine
Cycloserine, sold under the brand name Seromycin, is an antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis. Specifically it is used, along with other antituberculosis medications, for active drug resistant tuberculosis. It is given by mouth. Common side effects include allergic reactions, seizures, sleepiness, unsteadiness, and numbness. It is not recommended in people who have kidney failure, epilepsy, depression, or are alcoholics. It is unclear if use during pregnancy is safe for the baby. Cycloserine is s...
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