Efficacy and Mechanism of Chaizhizhen Composite Formula Combined with Multiparameter Biofeedback Instrument Therapy in the Treatment of Patients with Chronic Schizophrenia

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Chaizhizhen Composite Formula combined with multi-parameter biofeedback instrument therapy in the treatment of chronic schizophrenia, and to analyze its effects on patients’ cognitive function, inflammatory factors, and the level of neurotransmitter/neurotrophic factor. Methods A total of 86 patients with chronic schizophrenia admitted to the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Henan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from May 2020 to June 2023 were selected and divided into two groups, using a random number table method, with 43 cases in each. The control group was treated with a multi-parameter biofeedback instrument alone, while the observation group was treated with Chaizhizhen Composite Formula combined with multi-parameter biofeedback instrument therapy. The treatment outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results The total clinical effective rate of the observation group was 93.02%, which was significantly higher than 79.07% of the control group (P＜0.05). At 4 weeks after treatment and 4 weeks of follow-up, the positive and negative syndrome scale scores of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group, while the Chinese version of Montreal cognitive assessment scores were significantly higher than those of the control group in the same period (all P＜0.05). Furthermore, the observation group exhibited significantly lower serum levels of interleukin-8, interleukin-2, and tumor necrosis factor-α, and significantly higher levels of noradrenaline, 5-hydroxytryptamine, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor compared to the control group in the same period (all P＜0.05). Conclusion Chaizhizhen Composite Formula combined with multi-parameter biofeedback instrument therapy demonstrates definite efficacy in patients with chronic schizophrenia, effectively improving their psychiatric symptoms and cognitive function. Its therapeutic mechanism may be associated with the regulation of inflammatory factors, enhancement of neurotransmitter secretion, and promotion of neurotrophic factor expression.