Anticonvulsants as adjuncts for the neuroleptic treatment of schizophrenic psychoses: a clinical study with beclamide.
A recent study showed an adjuvant effect of carbamazepine in the neuroleptic treatment of acute schizophrenic psychoses. Since beclamide (beta-chlorpropionamide) was reported to reduce the neuroleptic doses required, the combination haloperidol-beclamide was tested using a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 23 inpatients with an acute schizophrenic psychosis. In both groups patients received haloperidol and either beclamide or placebo. Every 7 d the treating psychiatrist could increase the haloperidol dose by 3 mg per day if clinically necessary. Chlorprothixene and biperiden were on hand as additional medication. After 28 d beclamide or placebo were discontinued under a constant dose of haloperidol and a final rating with the Inpatient Multidimensional Rating Scale, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, and Extrapyramidal Symptom Scale was carried out. Without reaching statistical significance, the beclamide group needed a lower dose of neuroleptic medication, showed fewer side effects and a more pronounced psychopathological improvement.
Raptis
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C
Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Federal Republic of Germany.
Garcia-Borreguero
D
D
Weber
M M
MM
Dose
M
M
Bremer
D
D
Emrich
H M
HM
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002749:Chlorprothixene / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011422:Propionates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D011422:Propionates; D002749:Chlorprothixene; C011676:beclamide; D006220:Haloperidol