--- title: "Psych News Alert: Adjunctive Taurine May Reduce Psychotic Symptoms in Patients With FEP" description: Despite treatment with antipsychotics, people with first-episode psychosis often experience ongoing symptoms and cognitive impairments wh... image: https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/psychiatrist%20talks%20to%20blurred%20patient_164383664-Jun-24-2025-06-07-17-1085-PM.jpg --- 11/16/16 12:00 AM # Adjunctive Taurine May Reduce Psychotic Symptoms in Patients With FEP ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [ Psychiatric News Alert ](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/11/adjunctive-taurine-may-reduce-psychotic.html) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/11/adjunctive-taurine-may-reduce-psychotic.html) [Twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/11/adjunctive-taurine-may-reduce-psychotic.html) [pinterest-p icon ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/11/adjunctive-taurine-may-reduce-psychotic.html) [envelope icon ](mailto:?body=https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/11/adjunctive-taurine-may-reduce-psychotic.html) | ![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/psychiatrist%20talks%20to%20blurred%20patient_164383664-Jun-24-2025-06-07-18-0994-PM.jpg?width=200&height=133&name=psychiatrist%20talks%20to%20blurred%20patient_164383664-Jun-24-2025-06-07-18-0994-PM.jpg) | | | --- | --- | Despite treatment with antipsychotics, people with first-episode psychosis often experience ongoing symptoms and cognitive impairments while on antipsychotics. A [study](http://www.psychiatrist.com/JCP/article/Pages/2016/aheadofprint/15m10185.aspx) published in the *Journal of Clinical Psychiatry* now suggests that adding the amino acid taurine daily to an antipsychotic regimen reduces psychotic but not cognitive symptoms. Previous studies have shown that taurine—an inhibitory neuromodulatory amino acid in the central nervous system that has been shown to activate GABA and glycine receptors and inhibit *N-*methyl-D-aspartate receptors—reduces psychosis and leads to cognitive improvements in patients with a history of psychosis.  To investigate the effectiveness of adjunctive taurine in improving symptomatology and cognition in patients with first-episode psychosis, an international team of researchers randomly assigned 86 patients aged 18 to 25 with first-episode psychosis to 4 g of taurine or placebo daily for 12 weeks. All participants had been taking antipsychotics for at least three months and continued to take them throughout the trial. Patients were evaluated using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and cognitive tests at the beginning of the study and at week 12. The researchers found that relative to placebo, taurine resulted in significant improvements in total symptomology as well as measures of positive symptoms, depression, and general functioning over 12 weeks. There was no difference in cognitive scores between the taurine and placebo groups. While the overall rates of side effects were low among both groups at week 12, the taurine group was significantly more likely to report symptoms of fatigue. “Taurine had a statistically significant and clinically important effect on symptomatology and functioning in patients with first-episode psychosis and was found to be safe and well tolerated,” wrote the researchers. “The findings of the current study … suggest that the properties of taurine and its potential therapeutic benefits in early psychosis warrant further investigation.” For related information, see the *Psychiatric News* article “[Gralnick Award Lecturer Emphasizes Importance of First-Episode Treatment](http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.pn.2016.11a7).” (Olimpik/Shutterstock) --- **Take Action on Comprehensive Mental Health Reform** APA has joined with mental health and allied stakeholders in launching a coordinated grassroots effort urging Congress to pass major mental health reform legislation before it adjourns at the end of this year. Please get involved and help push mental health reform over the finish line. - If you wish to contact your members of Congress to express support for mental health reform **via Twitter**, please click [here](http://cqrcengage.com/psychorg/app/thru?ep=AAAAC2Flc0NpcGhlcjAxOf2GIQfatCTy1yBJUDwe5bYo9GCJAd9Ukyr8O0rlXBv0y52HttbZJkcrVsZZo5Jvc6AVmQu_2s23u9pyOX9j8cuynm0Ah7Fncvfw11egfrWw9uI8G9c1OO7dP4p9L3lCJkXSdvyiQF3OUrW9ogw2aA&lp=0). - If you wish to contact your members of Congress to express support for mental health reform **via email or phone**, please click [here](http://cqrcengage.com/psychorg/app/thru?ep=AAAAC2Flc0NpcGhlcjAxxXVr5wALsnTuW9R6WyQUxu7f84RMfe8KEacjUIbYsh76BE35hvmT2hCgCvnjZgDh8xwLSWxC35Qo2XKilsdObwh6s4YehZQtDuu4tbxB5vK8lEnuiuyHNHDxW_j4VGf6ZBwz8wLkoC6iauReoTrh8qLQnLHuB3Ylky21FCtHAMM&lp=0). 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