title: Methylphenidate challenge as a predictor of relapse in schizophrenia.
abstract: Although neuroleptics are the major treatment for schizophrenia, there are no effective measures to determine the appropriate or necessary length of neuroleptic maintenance. To test the ability of a psychostimulant challenge to predict relapse following neuroleptic withdrawal, the authors administered methylphenidate and placebo infusions to 11 stable schizophrenic outpatients who had been on a neuroleptic maintenance regimen for at least 6 months. Patients withdrawn from neuroleptics were followed until relapse. All three patients with a positive response to methylphenidate challenge relapsed in 1 to 7 weeks; one of seven negative responders relapsed at week 21. Differences in relapse rates (p = .033) and survival time (p = .005) between negative and positive responders were significant.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D011897:Random Allocation; D012008:Recurrence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010919:Placebos; D008774:Methylphenidate