title: Low-dose neuroleptic treatment of outpatient schizophrenics. I. Preliminary results for relapse rates.
abstract: In an attempt to begin to establish minimum effective dosage requirements for the maintenance treatment of schizophrenia, we undertook a double-blind comparison of low-dose fluphenazine decanoate (1.25 to 5.0 mg/2 wk) with the standard-dose regimen (12.5 to 50.0 mg/2 wk) in outpatient schizophrenics. For the first 126 patients studied, cumulative relapse rates at one year for the low dose were 56% and for the standard dose 7%, a significant difference. Despite the fact that very little dyskinetic symptomatology developed in the sample as a whole, the low-dose treatment appeared to have a significant advantage in producing fewer early signs of tardive dyskinesia. Severity of relapse and total cumulative dosage were also considered.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005476:Fluphenazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012008:Recurrence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
chemical_list: C011825:fluphenazine depot; D005476:Fluphenazine