Schizophrenia treatment has relied on the same dopamine-blocking drugs for decades, but a new class — muscarinic agonists like KarXT — has just entered the market and works through a completely different brain pathway. Long-acting injections are also expanding, helping people stay well between visits.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing muscarinic and other novel medications, long-acting monthly and bi-monthly injections, treatments for cognitive and negative symptoms (which older drugs barely touch), and digital tools to track relapse. Researchers are also studying coordinated specialty care for first-episode psychosis and reducing the metabolic side effects of antipsychotics.
New drug class
Muscarinic agonists like KarXT treat schizophrenia without the weight gain, movement problems, and sedation of older drugs. Trials are testing more drugs in this class.
Long-acting injections
Once-monthly and twice-yearly injections improve adherence and reduce relapse compared with daily pills. Several new options are in late-stage trials.
Cognitive symptoms
Memory and attention problems are often the most disabling part of schizophrenia, and older drugs do not help them. New medications and cognitive training programs target these symptoms specifically.
What to know before you search
Eligibility often depends on age, time since first episode, current symptoms, prior medications tried, and other conditions like substance use.
What types of trials are currently open
- New medication trials — Testing antipsychotics that work through new brain pathways or have fewer side effects.
- Therapy trials — Testing cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, and supported employment programs.
- Device trials — Studies of brain stimulation, cognitive training apps, and digital tools for relapse prevention.
- Long-acting injection trials — Testing newer monthly or twice-yearly injections to keep symptoms in remission.
- Observational studies — Following people with schizophrenia to learn about long-term outcomes and what predicts recovery.
Recently added Schizophrenia trials
REFLECT: A Novel Group-Based Compassion-Focussed Cognitive Behavioural Approach to Core Beliefs in Psychosis
The current study is an open-label, proof-of-concept, pilot trial examining the feasibility, safety, and preliminary efficacy of a 6-week group therapy intervention targeting core beliefs related to symptoms of psychosis. Core beliefs are theorized to be central to the development and maintenance of psychosis and other mental health conditions; however, research on how to address this key mechanism in psychosis is rarely directly studied. The primary questions it aims to answer include: 1. Is targeting core beliefs in a technology-supported remote group therapy format safe and feasible? 2. Does targeting core beliefs result in measurable change in core beliefs? The investigators hypothesize that this intervention will be safe and feasible, and that we will see improvements in maladaptive core beliefs. Secondary outcomes include changes in positive and negative symptoms, personal recovery, and whether there are improvements in other cognitive mechanisms, like cognitive biases, and behavioural mechanisms, like safety behaviours. As this is an open pilot trial, there is no comparison group. All participants will have the opportunity to participate in the group therapy intervention. Participants will be asked to take part in four assessment visits: screening (Day 1), baseline (pre-intervention; Day 1-14), post-intervention (Weeks 7-9), and a three-month follow-up (Weeks 19-21). The intervention under investigation is a 6-week group therapy intervention consisting of weekly 2-hour sessions delivered via video conferencing, with weekly home practice assignments delivered and completed remotely.
Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of Roluperidone in Adult Subjects With Negative Symptoms and Stable Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia and to Evaluate the Relapse Rate of Roluperidone and Antipsychotic Medications
Evaluate the efficacy, as well as safety and pharmacokinetics, of Roluperidone in improving the negative symptoms of schizophrenia in adult subjects in Phase A of study, followed by Phase B of study to evaluate the relapse rate of Roluperidone and antipsychotic medications.
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