A new study tested whether a simple voice recording could help predict who will benefit from a schizophrenia treatment. Researchers used a vocal biomarker that measures speech latency, or the pause before answering. They enrolled 406 people with acute psychosis from three countries speaking eight languages. All participants took the experimental drug brilaroxazine or a placebo for 28 days.
The biomarker showed excellent internal consistency and good stability over time. Patients with moderate to severe negative symptoms had longer speech latencies. The test classified participants into two groups: 180 with negative vocal biomarker and 228 with positive. In the positive group, the drug showed large, statistically significant improvements on nearly every outcome measure compared to placebo.
This is a phase 3 randomized controlled trial, but the primary outcome was not reported, and limitations were not disclosed. The study suggests that using speech latency as an enrichment tool could reduce sample size needs and enhance outcomes in clinical trials. However, the claim that it nearly doubled the drug-placebo effect is based on previous evidence, not necessarily this trial's primary analysis.
For now, this is early evidence that voice analysis might help personalize schizophrenia treatment. More research is needed before this becomes a standard tool. Patients should discuss any new treatments with their doctor.
