title: Pimozide in the maintenance treatment of apathetic and emotionally withdrawn schizophrenics.
abstract: An open pilot study was carried out to assess the effectiveness of pimozide as the sole maintenance therapy for chronic institutionalized schizophrenics who were withdrawn and apathetic. A total of 13 patients entered the study and, following withdrawal of all other neuroleptics for 1 month, patients then received pimozide in a dosage increased gradually from 8 mg to 20 mg per day. Patients were assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the St. Wulston's Ward Behaviour Scale. There was a trend towards improvement when patients were assessed by both rating scales. This was only statistically significant between the pre-pimozide measurement and the 4 and 6-month's assessment on the BPRS. Other differences, including a slight reduction in side-effects, were not statistically significant.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D010868:Pimozide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D010868:Pimozide