6ER-007 Raloxifene as an adjuvant therapy for patients with schizophrenia

<h3>Background and Importance</h3> Raloxifene may be useful as an adjunctive treatment schizophrenia. <h3>Aim and Objectives</h3> This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of adjunctive raloxifene in patients with schizophrenia. <h3>Material and Methods</h3> Systematic search was performed using PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases for articles published until May 2024. Randomised controlled trials investigating the effectiveness and safety of adjunctive raloxifene for treating schizophrenia were included. The outcome measure was psychotic symptom severity using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Mean differences (MDs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random effects models. <h3>Results</h3> Nine studies were included in the final analysis. Compared with the placebo group, raloxifene as an adjunctive therapy significantly improved the positive, negative, general, and total PANSS scores, MD = −1.30 (95% CI = −2.39 to −0.20; I² = 52%; p = 0.02), MD = −1.69 (95% CI = −3.19 to −0.20; I² = 68%; p = 0.03), MD = −3.90 (95% CI = −6.59 to −1.21; I² = 69%; p = 0.005), and MD = −7.12 (95% CI = −11.89 to −2.36; I² = 74%; p = 0.003), respectively. <h3>Conclusion and Relevance</h3> This meta-analysis shows that adjunctive raloxifene is effective and safe in patients with mild to moderate schizophrenia, specifically improving PANSS-positive, general, and total scores. Future studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm these findings. <h3>References and/or Acknowledgements</h3> <h3>References</h3> de Boer J, Prikken M, Lei WU, Begemann M, Sommer I. The effect of raloxifene augmentation in men and women with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. <i>NPJ Schizophr</i>. 2018 Jan 10;<b>4</b>(1):1. <h3>Conflict of Interest</h3> No conflict of interest