Raloxifene Augmentation in Patients With a Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder

There is increasing clinical and molecular evidence for the role of hormones and specifically estrogen and its receptor in schizophrenia. A selective estrogen receptor modulator, raloxifene, stimulates estrogen-like activity in brain and can improve cognition in older adults. The present study will test the extent to which adjunctive raloxifene treatment improved cognition and reduced symptoms in young to middle-age men and women with schizophrenia. 110 patients with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder will be recruited in a multicenter twelve-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel trial of adjunctive 120mg raloxifene treatment in addition to their usual antipsychotic medications. The investigators hypothesize that daily treatment with raloxifene 120 milligrams (mg) in addition to antipsychotic treatment improves cognition, reduces psychotic symptoms, increases social and personal functioning and reduces health care costs, as compared to placebo.