Clozapine, negative symptoms, and extrapyramidal side effects.
The importance of persistent negative symptoms in schizophrenia as a limiting factor in psychosocial and vocational rehabilitation has been increasingly emphasized. As a result, treatment trials and new drug development programs are focusing more attention on negative symptoms. Unfortunately, there is enormous phenomenological overlap between negative symptoms and neuroleptic-induced parkinsonism. We report data from a cohort of 56 clozapine-treated patients demonstrating significant correlations between measures of akinesia and anergia. Despite an average drug washout of over 2 weeks, the persistence of drug-induced parkinsonism can confound the assessment of therapeutic drug effects on negative symptoms.
Hillside Hospital, Division of Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Glen Oaks, N.Y. 11004.
J M
JM
Kane
A Z
AZ
Safferman
S
S
Pollack
C
C
Johns
S
S
Szymanski
M
M
Kronig
J A
JA
Lieberman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010302:Parkinson Disease, Secondary / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D003024:Clozapine