Table 1: Overview of the current evidence from double-blind, placebo-controlled trials assessing statins' effects on schizophrenia symptoms. Primary outcomes are the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) was used to measure cognition. Participants received the statin or placebo as in addition to antipsychotic treatment.

Author Study treatment, mg/day Subjects, n Trial duration Design Participants Results
Sayyah, et al. [22] Atorvastatin, 20 and risperidone, 6 19 6 weeks Double blind placebo controlled DSM IV schizophrenia SANS - non-significant decrease in treatment group
Placebo, 20 and risperidone, 6 21 PANSS ≥ 50
SANS ≥ 10:
Ghanizadeh, et al. [25] Lovastatin, 20 and risperidone, 2-8 16 60 days Double-blind placebo-controlled DSM IV active phase schizophrenia PANSS - no significant difference between statin and placebo
Placebo, 20 and risperidone, 2-8 14
Vincenzi, et al. [26] Pravastatin, 40 24 12 weeks Double-blind placebo-controlled DSM-IV schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder PANSS-significant decrease in treatment group after 6 weeks. No difference after 12 weeks
Placebo, 40 25 MATRICS-no significant difference
Total cholesterol, Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and LDL particle number levels-significant decrease in treatment group after 6 weeks. No difference after 12 weeks
Chaudhry, et al. [27] Treatment as usual 12 12 weeks Rater-blind placebo-controlled DSM-IV schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, psychosis not otherwise specified or schizophreniform disorder PANSS-no significant difference between statin and placebo
Treatment as usual and simvastatin, 20,40 (4 weeks, 8 weeks) 12
Treatment as usual and ondansetron, 8 12