| Effect | Decrease |
| Values | PANSS. Mean + standard deviation. Total symptoms: Placebo: before 69.48 (8.45), after 61.48 (14.89). Intervention: before 69.88 (8), after 53.91 (11.40). |
| Trial Design | Randomized trial |
| Trial Length | 1-6 months |
| Number of Subjects | 68 |
| Sex | Both Genders |
| Age Range | 18-29, 30-44, 45-64, 65+ |
| Body Types | Obese, Overweight, Average, Underweight |
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial 64 schizophrenia patients were assigned to take placebo or 500 mg of an ashwagandha extract for the first week and 1000 mg for the remaining 11 weeks of the trial.Funding issues for this study:
The primary outcome was the severity of schizophrenia systems as assessed by PANSS. Participants taking ashwagandha saw a modest, statistically significant reduction in their total symptoms compared with placebo. They also saw a notable reduction in perceived stress. Markers of inflammation, hsCRP, and S100B declined in the ashwagandha group and increased in the placebo group, but the difference wasn't statistically significant. There was no change in IL-6. There was no significant difference in blood pressure or body weight between the groups at the end of the trial.
No statistically significant differences in adverse events were found between the groups.
"This clinical trial was funded by the Stanley Medical Research Institute, Maryland, under grant award 12T-001. Natreon, Inc., New Jersey, provided the standardized extract of Withania somnifera and placebo."
"Dr Chengappa states that the University of Pittsburgh is pursuing intellectual property protection for the technology discussed in this article. Drs Brar and Gannon and Ms Schlicht have no conflicts of interest to disclose with regard to this study."
"Neither the Stanley Medical Research Institute nor Natreon, Inc. had any role in conducting the clinical trial, data gathering, or analyses or reporting of the study results."
