Effects of Nicotine on Areas of Impaired and Preserved Functioning in Schizophrenia

Objective: 1. To evaluate the potential of transdermal nicotine to alleviate distinct cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, and to determine whether naturally maintained cigarette-smoking, in comparison, is an effective self-medication. 2. To gather preliminary data on genotypes that may account for interindividual and group differences in the performance effects of nicotine. Study population: 45 regular smokers with schizophrenia, 45 matched control smokers (greater than or equal to 5 cigarettes/day). Design: Double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject study, evaluating cognitive functions under conditions of normal smoking, transdermal nicotine (14 mg/day), and placebo (minimal tobacco deprivation). Outcome measures: Measures of cognitive task performance, measures of subjective state, plasma concentrations of nicotine and metabolites, and genotype with regards to genes coding for nicotinic receptor subunits, MAO, and COMT.