Antiepileptic drugs in the treatment of neuroleptic-induced supersensitivity psychosis.
1. Supersensitivity psychosis (SSP) has emerged as a potential side-effect of long term neuroleptic therapy similar to tardive dyskinesia. 2. Five schizophrenic patients with SSP and considered to be drug-resistant were treated with antiepileptic drugs. All 5 improved initially, and in three the improvement was maintained at follow-up. 3. The proposed mechanism of action of the antiepileptic drugs is through correcting a pharmacological kindling effect in the limbic system which results from chronic neuroleptic therapy.
Sultan
S
S
Allan Memorial Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Chouinard
G
G
Beaudry
P
P
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011605:Psychoses, Substance-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D002220:Carbamazepine; D010672:Phenytoin