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Recruiting Phase 2 NCT04226898

NCT04226898 Synbiotic Compound to Reduce Symptoms of Schizophrenia

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Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT04226898
Status Recruiting
Phase Phase 2
Sponsor Sheppard Pratt Health System
Condition Schizophrenia
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment 68 participants
Start Date 2022-02-21
Primary Completion 2027-03

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 18 Years
Max Age 65 Years
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Interventions
Synbiotic SupplementInert Compound

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.

In Phase 2, researchers evaluate early signs of effectiveness. You may be randomized to receive the active treatment or a comparator. Monitoring continues closely.

This trial targets 68 participants in total. It began in 2022-02-21 with a primary completion date of 2027-03.

⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if taking a synbiotic supplement versus a placebo will reduce symptoms of schizophrenia when used in addition to standard antipsychotic medications.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18-65, inclusive. * Capacity for written informed consent. * Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (APA 2013) as determined by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders (SCID-5). * Outpatient at the time of enrollment. * Residual psychotic symptoms of at least moderate severity as evidenced by a Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (Kay et al., 1987) (PANSS) total score of 60 or higher AND one or more of the following: one or more PANSS positive symptom scores of 4 or higher; OR containing at least three positive or negative items with scores of 3 or higher at the screening visit. * Receiving antipsychotic medication for at least 8 weeks prior to starting the study with no medication changes within the previous 21 days. * Proficient in the English language. Exclusion Criteria: * DSM-5 diagnosis of intellectual disability or comparable diagnosis determined by previous versions of the DSM. * Any clinically significant or unstable medical disorder as determined by the investigators, including congestive heart failure, liver disease, renal failure, any diagnosis of cancer undergoing active treatment. * A primary immunodeficiency condition such as HIV infection, or undergoing cancer chemotherapy, or receiving systemic corticosteroids, methotrexate or monoclonal antibodies for treatment of an autoimmune disorder. * History of IV drug use. * DSM-5 diagnosis of a moderate or severe substance use disorder, except for caffeine or tobacco, within the last three months prior to the screening visit. If the patient has a positive drug toxicity screen at the time of visit 1 (screening) further evaluation by the investigator will be done of the substance use to determine eligibility. * Participated in any investigational drug trial in the past 30 days. * Pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study period. * Receipt of antibiotic medication within the 14 days prior to visit 2 (as anaerobic organisms residing in the gastrointestinal tract may be minimally affected by antibiotics). Of note, patients on antibiotic may be re-screened once the minimum duration of time since antibiotics use has been met. * Current and regular use of a probiotic and or prebiotic supplement within the past 2 weeks. Of note, patients taking prebiotic or probiotic supplements may be re-screened. * Documented inflammatory bowel disease (e.g. Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis) or celiac disease

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

Emily Katsafanas

✉ ekatsafanas@sheppardpratt.org

📞 410-938-4360

Principal Investigator

Faith Dickerson, PhD, MPH

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Sheppard Pratt Health System

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT04226898 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, up to 65 Years, studying Schizophrenia. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

What phase is the NCT04226898 trial and what does that mean for participants?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether the treatment shows signs of effectiveness while continuing to monitor safety. More participants are enrolled than in Phase 1 to help refine the treatment protocol.

Is NCT04226898 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT04226898 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at ekatsafanas@sheppardpratt.org for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT04226898 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Batlimore, United States.

Who is sponsoring the NCT04226898 clinical trial?

NCT04226898 is sponsored by Sheppard Pratt Health System. The principal investigator is Faith Dickerson, PhD, MPH at Sheppard Pratt Health System. The trial plans to enroll 68 participants.

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ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: April 2026  ·  Data Methodology