A placebo-controlled study of lithium combined with neuroleptics in chronic schizophrenic patients.
Lithium combined with major tranquilizers was administered to 22 hospitalized chronic schizophrenic patients with minimal neurotoxicity or other side effects. Moreover, 10 of the patients benefited significantly with lithium as compared to placebo in terms of blind psychiatric and nursing ratings and nonblind clinical judgments of outcome. These results contrast with previous negative reports in the literature and the generally poor prognosis in chronic schizophrenic patients. The authors suggest that a trial combining lithium with psychotropic drugs is warranted in schizophrenic patients who do not respond satisfactorily to conventional treatment
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014149:Tranquilizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D010919:Placebos; D014149:Tranquilizing Agents; D008094:Lithium