A pilot study of haloperidol treatment of psychosis and behavioral disturbance in Alzheimer's disease.
Nine outpatients meeting research criteria for probable Alzheimer's disease who had psychosis or behavioral disturbance participated in a single-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study. Oral haloperidol in doses of 1 to 5 mg daily improved target symptoms, confirmed by double-blind ratings of videotaped interviews. Patients could not be maintained on more than 4 mg of haloperidol daily due to the severity of extrapyramidal side effects. Modified Mini-Mental State scores worsened while taking haloperidol, with only partial recovery in the final 4-week placebo phase. Severe extrapyramidal side effects and decline in cognitive function may compromise the efficacy of commonly used doses of neuroleptic drugs in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Devanand
D P
DP
Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY.
Sackeim
H A
HA
Brown
R P
RP
Mayeux
R
R
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male
D006220:Haloperidol