Maintaining schizophrenic patients on benzodiazepines.
The role of benzodiazepines (BZDs) in the treatment of schizophrenia is widely researched since the sixties. Nevertheless the role of BZD's as sole agents for the maintainance phase in pharmacotherapy of schizophrenic patients received little attention. We have conducted a retrospective review of all medical records of ambulatory schizophrenic patients in an out-patient setting receiving only BZD maintainance treatment. Three factors characterized these patients: long duration of illness, few hospitalizations and a relatively low dose response to BZD's.
Kimhi
R
R
Y. Abarbanel Mental Health Center, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
Barak
Y
Y
Ring
A
A
Szor
H
H
Elizur
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines