Amphetamine response and relapse risk after depot neuroleptic discontinuation.
Twenty-five schizophrenic outpatient subjects in a depot neuroleptic discontinuation study received an amphetamine challenge approximately 6 weeks after their last dose. Only five of these showed greater than three-point increases in positive symptoms on the BPRS, and all five relapsed within 30 days of the challenge. The 20 with less than three-point increases in positive symptoms showed extremely variable stability, relapsing from 20- greater than 600 days after the challenge. Thus, increase in positive symptoms after amphetamine may identify a group at risk for rapid relapse after neuroleptic discontinuation, but lack of such a response gives little prognostic information.
Angrist
B
B
Peselow
E
E
Rubinstein
M
M
Wolkin
A
A
Rotrosen
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D005476:Fluphenazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012008:Recurrence; D012306:Risk; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D000661:Amphetamine; D005476:Fluphenazine