title: A controlled study of a dopa decarboxylase inhibitor (benserazide) in the treatment of schizophrenic patients.
abstract: In a double-blind controlled study lasting 6 weeks, 32 schizophrenic patients were randomly assigned to one of two treatments: chlorpromazine or benserazide, a dopa decarboxylase inhibitor. Results on each measure were subject to multifactorial analysis of covariance. Benserazide did not appear to be as effective an antipsychotic medicaiton as chlorpromazine. In fact, chlorpromazine was significantly better on measures of tension, excitement, hallucinatory behavior, thinking disturbance, social interest, and drop-out rate. At the relatively low dosages used in this study, it would seem that benserazide had little effect on the cerebral dopa decarboxylase, and it would be worthwhile trying higher dosages.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D065105:Aromatic Amino Acid Decarboxylase Inhibitors; D001545:Benserazide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002746:Chlorpromazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006834:Hydrazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D065105:Aromatic Amino Acid Decarboxylase Inhibitors; D006834:Hydrazines; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D001545:Benserazide; D002746:Chlorpromazine