An acne medication could hold unexpected promise for preventing one of the most severe mental illnesses according to researchers at the University of Edinburgh.
In a study they say they have discovered that doxycycline, a common antibiotic, may significantly reduce the risk of schizophrenia in young people.
The study, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, found that adolescents prescribed doxycycline were about one-third less likely to develop schizophrenia in adulthood compared with those treated with other antibiotics.
The finding emerged from a large-scale analysis of more than 56,000 Finnish adolescents who received antibiotics while under mental health care.
Schizophrenia, which typically begins in early adulthood, is marked by hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking. Efforts to prevent the condition have long been challenging.
However, the new research suggests doxycycline’s anti-inflammatory properties might play a role in protecting the brain during critical stages of development.
According to the study, doxycycline may help regulate synaptic pruning — the brain’s natural process of strengthening or eliminating neural connections. Excessive pruning has been linked to schizophrenia’s onset, and the antibiotic’s ability to reduce inflammation in brain cells may help maintain a healthier balance.
Lead researcher Professor Ian Kelleher, a child and adolescent psychiatry expert at the University of Edinburgh, called the findings “exciting,” noting that half of schizophrenia cases involve individuals who had previously received care for other mental health issues.
“Currently, there are no interventions proven to reduce the risk of developing schizophrenia in these young people,” Kelleher said. “While our study doesn’t prove causation, it offers a strong signal that warrants further research into anti-inflammatory approaches for prevention.”
The research was conducted in collaboration with the University of Oulu, University College Dublin, and St. John of God Hospitaller Services Group, and funded by the Health Research Board.
If confirmed through clinical trials, this discovery could open new, practical avenues for mental health prevention using existing medications that are already safe, affordable, and widely available.
