A Study to Test the Effectiveness and Safety of a New Medication in the Treatment of Schizophrenia

• Change From Baseline to the End of the Double-blind Treatment in the BPRS (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale) Total Score [ Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  The BPRS consists of 18 ordered categorical items (from "not present" to "extremely severe," on a 1- to 7-point scale), each developed to assess patient symptomatology in a relatively discrete symptom area. The BPRS will be extracted from the PANSS by adding the scores of the 18 items (P2 to P7, N1, N2, and G1 to G10) of the PANSS and will not be assessed separately.
  
  

• Change From Baseline to the End of the Double-blind Treatment in the PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) Scores [ Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  The PANSS is a 30-item scale that evaluates positive, negative, and other symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Each item is rated on a 7-point scale that ranges from 1 (absent) to 7 (extreme). Scores range from 30-210 with higher scores representing a worsening of schizophrenia.
  
  
• Change From Baseline to the End of the Double-blind Treatment in the CGI-S (Clinical Global Impression of Severity) Scores [ Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  The CGI Severity (CGI-S) assesses the severity of illness of the patient relative to the particular population on a 7-point scale ranging from 1 (normal, not at all ill) to 7 (among the most extremely ill patients).
  
  
• Change From Baseline to the End of the Double-blind Treatment in the MADRS (Montgomery Asberg-Depression Scale) Scores [ Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  The MADRS is a 10-item rating scale that assesses apparent and reported sadness, lassitude, pessimism, inner tension, suicidality, reduced sleep or appetite, difficulty in concentration, and lack of interest. Each item is scored on a 7-point scale with a score of 0 reflecting no symptoms and a score of 6 reflecting symptoms of maximum severity.
  
  

Study will evaluate the efficacy of a new compound versus placebo in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia (diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria) as measured by reductions from baseline on the total score of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) as extracted from the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).