The pharmacologic treatment of schizophrenia: a progress report.
Pharmacologic agents currently used or being studied for the treatment of schizophrenia are reviewed. Neuroleptic medications are still the mainstay of treatment, but recent studies suggest new approaches to dosage and to the treatment of acute psychosis. Lithium is beneficial in psychotic illnesses with acute onset and a remitting course, regardless of the acute psychotic symptoms. Antidepressant agents may ameliorate depression in psychotic patients, but do not improve psychotic symptoms or social withdrawal. Propranolol's reported antipsychotic action has not been confirmed by controlled studies, but the drug may have a role in treating organic psychoses. The benzodiazepines, clonidine, and carbamazepine all merit more investigation as possible treatments for psychosis. The implications of differential treatment response among schizophrenic patients are discussed.
D000208:Acute Disease; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003000:Clonidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D011379:Prognosis; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D002220:Carbamazepine; D008094:Lithium; D011433:Propranolol; D003000:Clonidine