Effects of zinc sulfate on schizophrenia symptoms in patients undergoing atypical antipsychotic pharmacotherapy

INTRODUCTION: It has been noticed that inadequate levels of zinc (Zn) can have adverse effects on the nervous system, which in turn leads to cognitive disorders. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of Zn sulfate on eliminating the symptoms of schizophrenia. METHODOLOGY: This study was a double-blind intervention study conducted in 2020. PANSS and HAM-D questionnaires as well as demographic information were completed for the participants. The patients were assigned to two groups with an equal number of 44 (n = 44). Zinc sulfate 220 mg capsules were delivered to the patients every 8 hours, and the control group received the placebo. Finally, the data of both groups were entered into the software and compared with one another. RESULTS: No significant differences were found among the 88 participants regarding variables of age (P = 0.607), gender (P = 0.792), job (P = 0.596), income (P = 0.293), length of the illness (P = 0.965), and education (P = 0.281). Positive symptoms (P = 0.426), negative symptoms (P = 0.891), and psychopathologic symptoms (P = 0.100) had no significant statistical difference between the two groups before the intervention. However, within the second week, positive symptoms had significant differences between the groups (P = 0.029), and they were significantly lower in the experimental group. The fourth week following the therapy was associated with significant differences in positive (P = 0.005), negative (P = 0.036), and psychopathological (P = 0.002) symptoms in both groups. Moreover, within the sixth week, significant differences in positive (P = 0.007), negative (P = 0.002), and psychopathological (P = 0.008) symptoms were found between both groups, which were significantly lower in the experimental group. CONCLUSIONS: According to the observations made in this study, zinc sulfate improved symptoms of schizophrenia in the patients.