title: A controlled trial of prostaglandin E1 precursor in chronic neuroleptic resistant schizophrenic patients.
abstract: The postulated deficiency of prostaglandin E1 series (PGE1) in schizophrenia has been investigated in a controlled therapeutic trial. Twenty-one inpatients with a schizophrenic illness resistant to neuroleptic drug treatments were randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions in a blind controlled trial of dihomo-gammalinolenic acid (DHLA), a PGE1 precursor. Patients received depot neuroleptic medication and DHLA capsules, placebo depot medication and DHLA capsules, or placebo depot medication and placebo capsules. No marked treatment effects were noticed on ratings of the patients' behaviour or symptomatology, though some clinical effects were noted in dyskinetic patients. Abnormalities in red blood cell lipids were observed in the patients entering the trial, suggesting that further investigation of an EFA/prostaglandin deficiency hypothesis in schizophrenia is worth pursuing.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Vaddadi
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Gilleard
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Mindham
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Butler
mesh_terms: D015126:8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000527:Alprostadil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D000527:Alprostadil; D015126:8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid