Influence and Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention on Cognitive Dysfunction in Patients with Schizophrenia

Abstract

This study investigates the impact and mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) intervention in patients with schizophrenia. In animal experiments, a total of 48 rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group (CG), model group (MG), Albizia flower flavonoid group (AFFG), and clozapine group (CLG). Each group consisted of 12 rats. After treatment, MK-801 was administered to the MG, AFFG, and CLG to establish schizophrenia rat models, while the CG received physiological saline. Cognitive abilities, hippocampal pathology, and protein expression were evaluated, and the expression levels of c-fos, cleaved Caspase-3, Bcl-2, and Bax were determined. In clinical trials, the study included 82 patients with schizophrenia treated at our hospital from February 2022 to February 2023. They were divided into the observation group (OG) and the experimental group (EG), with 41 cases in each group. The EG received aripiprazole and self-formulated TCM decoction, while the OG received aripiprazole. The PANSS scores and quality of life levels were compared. The results revealed impaired cognition, altered protein expression, and increased pathology in the MG compared to the CG. The AFFG and CLG exhibited enhanced cognition, improved protein expression, and reduced pathology when compared to the MG. Clinical findings demonstrated significantly lower PANSS scores and improved quality of life in the EG compared to the OG. In conclusion, Albizia flower flavonoids effectively modulated protein expression, ameliorated cognitive dysfunction, and reduced pathology. Additionally, the decoction decoction enhanced cognition and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia, suggesting promising clinical applications.