Clinical trial Recruiting at 2 sites Phase 4 Interventional

Comparing two medications for treating psychosis in Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies

Official title: A Pragmatic Randomized Trial Comparing Antipsychotics in Lewy Body Disease

Run by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio · NCT05590637 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing which of two medications, pimavanserin or quetiapine, works better to help people with psychosis caused by Parkinson's disease or dementia with Lewy bodies.

More Dementia With Lewy Bodies trials

Quick facts

PhasePhase 4
Study typeInterventional
SexAll
Enrollment94 (estimated)
SponsorThe University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Academic / other
Locations2 sites (San Antonio, Texas and 1 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedApril 22, 2022
Main results expectedAugust 2026
Study endsFebruary 2027
Registry record updatedSeptember 9, 2025
Trial IDNCT05590637 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates for this study are patients diagnosed with psychosis due to Parkinson's disease or dementia with Lewy bodies who require initiation of an antipsychotic medication.

Probably not a fit

Patients who are currently taking an antipsychotic medication or have medical contraindications to either pimavanserin or quetiapine may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to compare the effectiveness of two antipsychotic medications, pimavanserin and quetiapine, in treating psychosis associated with Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. Patients diagnosed with psychosis due to these conditions will be randomly assigned to receive either medication, and their improvement in symptoms will be assessed over a six-month period. The study seeks to provide clarity on which medication may offer better outcomes in a routine clinical setting. By focusing on real-world treatment scenarios, the trial aims to enhance understanding of psychosis management in Lewy body disease.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to more effective treatment options for patients experiencing psychosis due to Parkinson's disease or dementia with Lewy bodies.

How similar studies have gone: While there have been few comparison studies between these two medications, this trial aims to fill a gap in the existing literature, making it a novel approach.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients seen in the neurology clinic at UT Health San Antonio
* Diagnosed with psychosis due to PD or DLB
* Requiring initiation of an antipsychotic medication
* Clinical equipoise between quetiapine and pimavanserin must exist
* The prescribing provider must be comfortable prescribing and managing both quetiapine and pimavanserin

Exclusion Criteria:

* Medical contraindication to either medication
* Caregiver unavailable to complete NPI-Q
* Currently taking an antipsychotic medication
* Prescribing provider unwilling to manage either medication

Where it's running

  • University Health System
    San Antonio, Texas, United States
    Recruiting
  • UT Health Science Center - San Antonio
    San Antonio, Texas, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Sarah Horn, MD — The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
  • Study coordinator: Carolyn Paiz, BS
  • Email: paizc@uthscsa.edu
  • Phone: 210-450-8830

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

  • Red-light helmet therapy for people with dementia with Lewy bodies

    This test will see if red-light therapy worn as a helmet can help improve thinking, daily life, and brain activity in people with DLB.

    Recruiting University Hospital, Strasbourg, France · Strasbourg · NCT07602296

  • Cholinergic degeneration and cognitive fluctuations in Lewy body dementias

    This project will test whether loss of cholinergic neurons is linked to cognitive fluctuations in people with Lewy body dementias using blood and skin biomarkers, multimodal MRI, prolonged EEG, and will try an 8‑week galantamine treatment in a small subgroup.

    Recruiting Phase 4 Virginia Commonwealth University · Richmond, Virginia · NCT07284290

  • Magnetic stimulation of the visual cortex to try to improve thinking in dementia with Lewy bodies

    This trial will try repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the back of the head to see if it improves thinking and memory in people aged 65 and older with dementia with Lewy bodies.

    Recruiting Phase 1/2 Korea University Anam Hospital · Seoul, Seoul · NCT07122908

  • Predicting disease progression in dementia using biomarkers and modeling

    This study is trying to create a tool that helps predict how dementia will progress in people with mild cognitive impairment and different types of dementia, like Alzheimer's and Lewy Body Disease, by looking at brain scans, body fluids, and mental tests.

    Recruiting University Health Network, Toronto · North York, Ontario and 3 other locations · NCT06529744

  • Comparing imaging techniques for diagnosing Parkinson's disease and related conditions

    This study is testing two different imaging techniques to see which one better helps doctors tell apart Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, dementia with Lewy bodies, and Alzheimer's disease in patients and healthy volunteers.

    Recruiting at 2 sites Phase 2/3 Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven · Ghent, Gent and 1 other locations · NCT06120049

  • Evaluating a new PET imaging agent for brain conditions

    This study is testing a new imaging agent to see if it can help detect certain brain changes in people with Parkinson's disease, Multiple System Atrophy, and Dementia with Lewy Bodies, as well as in healthy individuals.

    Recruiting Early Phase 1 Massachusetts General Hospital · Charlestown, Massachusetts · NCT06098612

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.