Sertindole is an atypical antipsychotic approved in the European Union (EU) for use in patients with schizophrenia who are intolerant to at least one other antipsychotic agent. During clinical development sertindole was found to be as effective in the treatment of schizophrenia as the first-generation antipsychotic haloperidol and as the second-generation antipsychotic risperidone.
Sertindole is generally well tolerated and has a benign side-effect profile, including an absence of sedation, no effect on plasma prolactin levels, moderate weight gain, no anticholinergic-mediated cognitive impairment and a low rate of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS). Sertindole has been shown to prolong the QT interval and is contraindicated in patients with prolonged QT interval and in patients receiving drugs known to significantly prolong the QT interval.
The study is designed to provide data on the neurocognitive properties of sertindole versus quetiapine in patients with schizophrenia. Efficacy for cognitive impairment is assessed in patients who are in a stable phase of their illness, with a predefined maximum level of symptoms that will allow them to be included in the study. Prior antipsychotic medication will be withdrawn (down-tapered) and patients will be randomly assigned to one of the study drugs.
Cognitive deficiencies are an important feature of schizophrenia and correlate strongly with functional impairment. Improving functional outcomes in schizophrenia has a high priority and has resulted in the initiation of a program called Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) leading to the development of a neuropsychological test battery, the MCCB which is used in this study.
