Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness affecting about 1% of people worldwide, causing hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and social withdrawal. Current treatment centers on antipsychotic medications that block dopamine receptors, but many people continue experiencing symptoms or struggle with side effects. Researchers are now testing drugs that work through entirely different brain pathways.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing muscarinic receptor agonists that target acetylcholine rather than dopamine, drugs aimed at the NMDA glutamate receptor system, and anti-inflammatory approaches based on immune system involvement. Studies are also exploring early intervention in young people showing first symptoms, long-acting injectable medications to improve adherence, and treatments specifically for cognitive symptoms that current antipsychotics barely touch.
Muscarinic agonists
Drugs like xanomeline-trospium (KarXT, FDA-approved 2024) and emraclidine work on acetylcholine receptors instead of blocking dopamine. Early results show they may reduce hallucinations and delusions without causing the movement problems or weight gain common with older antipsychotics.
NMDA receptor modulators
These drugs target glutamate signaling, which appears disrupted in schizophrenia. Trials are testing whether correcting this imbalance improves thinking, memory, and motivation — symptoms current antipsychotics leave largely untreated.
Early intervention
Studies are testing whether treating people during their first psychotic episode with intensive support and lower medication doses prevents long-term disability. Some trials enroll people at very high risk before full schizophrenia develops.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on symptom severity, whether this is a first episode or ongoing illness, current medications, and sometimes how long someone has been stable or unstable.
What types of trials are currently open
- Antipsychotic trials — Testing new medications or comparing existing antipsychotics to see which work better with fewer side effects. Many now test drugs that work outside the dopamine system.
- Cognitive trials — Testing drugs or behavioral interventions aimed at improving memory, attention, and problem-solving, which antipsychotics don't address well.
- First-episode trials — Studies in people experiencing psychosis for the first time, often testing lower medication doses combined with therapy and family support.
- Negative symptom trials — Testing treatments for motivation, social withdrawal, and reduced emotional expression — symptoms that current medications rarely improve.
- Long-acting injectable trials — Testing monthly or quarterly injections that maintain steady medication levels, designed to prevent relapse in people who struggle with daily pills.
Recently added Schizophrenia trials
The Effect of Combined Brain Stimulation and Yoga for Improving Cognitive Function in Psychosis
The study examines (1) the effects of active anodal (facilitatory) tDCS and yoga combined intervention on cognitive function, clinical symptoms, and quality of life domains (social function and physical wellbeing) in psychosis, and (2) the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the effects induced by the combined intervention.
A Study of LTX-001 In Adult Participants With Acute Exacerbation of Schizophrenia
The purpose of this clinical trial is to learn whether the investigational drug LTX-001 is safe and well tolerated in adults with a diagnosis of schizophrenia who are having a recent worsening of their symptoms (an acute exacerbation). Additional questions it aims to answer are: * how does the amount of the study drug in the body change over time (pharmacokinetics) * how does the study drug affect the symptoms of schizophrenia * how do certain markers in the blood change after administration of LTX-001 (pharmacodynamics) Researchers will compare different dose levels of LTX-001 to an inactive product (placebo) to see what differences there are between the two treatments. After successfully screening for the study, participants will stay in a research unit for about five weeks and return one week later for a follow-up visit.
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