Adjunctive Nano-Curcumin for Methamphetamine-Induced Psychosis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial on Craving, Psychotic Symptoms, and Inflammatory Pathways
| Author | Mojtaba Mahdavi | en |
| Author | Fatemeh Sadat Ghoreishi | en |
| Author | Mojtaba Ketabi | en |
| Author | Mehrdad Simani | en |
| Author | Amir Ghaderi | en |
| Author | Hasan Rajabi Moghaddam | en |
| Orcid | Mojtaba Mahdavi [0000-0001-6644-3961] | en |
| Orcid | Fatemeh Sadat Ghoreishi [0000-0002-5926-7215] | en |
| Orcid | Mehrdad Simani [0000-0002-1100-9989] | en |
| Orcid | Amir Ghaderi [0000-0001-9193-6039] | en |
| Orcid | Hasan Rajabi Moghaddam [0000-0003-2252-6794] | en |
| Accessioned Date | 2026-07-14T17:53:40Z | |
| Issued Date | 2026-05-31 | en |
| Abstract | Background: Methamphetamine-induced psychosis (MIP) is a severe condition for which no approved pharmacotherapy is available. Because of the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties of curcumin (CUR). Objectives: This study examined the potential of nano-curcumin (Nano-CUR) as an adjunctive treatment to reduce craving and psychotic symptoms and modulate inflammatory biomarkers in patients with MIP. Methods: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 50 patients with MIP were randomized to receive either Nano-CUR (40 mg twice daily; total dose, 80 mg/day) or placebo for 4 weeks, alongside standard antipsychotic treatment. The primary outcomes were craving, assessed using the Desire for Drug Questionnaire (DDQ), and psychotic symptoms, assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), at baseline, week 4, and 1-month follow-up. The secondary outcomes were serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), adenosine A2A receptor, and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Per-protocol analysis was performed on 45 patients who completed the study. Results: Linear mixed models adjusted for baseline scores revealed significant main effects of time [F (2, 84.01) = 71.94, P < 0.001] and group [F (1, 45.09) = 46.78, P < 0.001] on craving, as well as a significant group × time interaction [F (2, 84.01) = 38.58, P < 0.001], indicating a greater reduction in the Nano-CUR group. For PANSS symptoms, a significant group × time interaction was also observed [F (2, 89.75) = 22.86, P < 0.001], in addition to significant main effects of time [F (2, 89.75) = 63.91, P < 0.001] and group [F (1, 51.03) = 41.91, P < 0.001]. By week 4, Nano-CUR significantly reduced TNF-α levels compared with placebo [mean difference (MD)= -18.07 pg/mL; 95% CI, -30.7 to -5.45; P = 0.006]. No significant effects were observed for adenosine A2A receptor, IL-6, or TLR4. Conclusions: Adjunctive Nano-CUR significantly reduced craving and psychotic symptoms and modulated inflammatory pathways by reducing TNF-α in patients with MIP. These findings support the potential of Nano-CUR as a novel, safe, and effective adjunctive therapy for the management of MIP. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/jjnpp-170012 | en |
| URI | https://brieflands.com/journals/jjnpp/articles/170012 | en |
| URI | https://repository.brieflands.com/handle/123456789/67998 | |
| Keyword | Methamphetamine-Induced Psychosis | en |
| Keyword | Nano-Curcumin | en |
| Keyword | Craving | en |
| Keyword | Adenosine A2A Receptor | en |
| Keyword | TNF-α | en |
| Keyword | Randomized Controlled Trial | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Adjunctive Nano-Curcumin for Methamphetamine-Induced Psychosis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial on Craving, Psychotic Symptoms, and Inflammatory Pathways | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |
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