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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Psychiatry
Sec. Schizophrenia
Volume 15 - 2024 |
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1540153
Metformin for neurocognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia: a systematic review
Provisionally accepted
Zhen-juan Qin
1*
Zhan-Ming Shi
2
Li-Juan Li
3
Wei Xin
1
Hui-Lin Hu
1*
Wei Wei
1*
Zhi-Yuan Xie
1*
Hang-Xi Ji
2*
Yu-Hua Wei
1*
Wei Zheng
4,5- 1 The Brain Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, LiuZhou, China
- 2 Chongqing Jiangbei Mental Health Center, Chongqing, China
- 3 First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan Province, China
- 4 The Affiliated Brain Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, GuangZhou, China
- 5 Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, GuangZhou, China
Abstract Background: The efficacy and safety of metformin for addressing neurocognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia remain inconclusive. This systematic review evaluates the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effects of metformin on neurocognitive function in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: A comprehensive search of Chinese databases (WanFang, Chinese Journal Net) and English databases (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library) was conducted to identify RCTs assessing metformin’s impact on neurocognitive outcomes in schizophrenia. Results: Four RCTs involving 271 patients with schizophrenia were included. Three RCTs (75%) demonstrated significant improvements in neurocognitive function with metformin compared to controls, as assessed by the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery, Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status, and Mini-Mental State Examination, but not the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia. Two RCTs (50%) evaluated metformin's effects on total psychopathology and found no significant differences between groups. Adverse events were reported in two RCTs, with inconsistent findings on decreased appetite and diarrhea. Other adverse events and discontinuation rates were comparable between groups. Conclusion: Preliminary evidence suggests that metformin may improve neurocognitive function in schizophrenia. However, further large-scale, double-blind, high quality RCTs are warranted to validate these findings. Keywords: metformin; schizophrenia; neurocognitive dysfunction; systematic review; efficacy.
Keywords: Metformin, Schizophrenia, neurocognitive dysfunction, Systematic review, efficacy
Received: 05 Dec 2024; Accepted: 24 Dec 2024.
Copyright: © 2024 Qin, Shi, Li, Xin, Hu, Wei, Xie, Ji, Wei and Zheng. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Zhen-juan Qin, The Brain Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, LiuZhou, China
Hui-Lin Hu, The Brain Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, LiuZhou, China
Wei Wei, The Brain Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, LiuZhou, China
Zhi-Yuan Xie, The Brain Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, LiuZhou, China
Hang-Xi Ji, Chongqing Jiangbei Mental Health Center, Chongqing, China
Yu-Hua Wei, The Brain Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, LiuZhou, China
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