title: Low- and standard-dose depot haloperidol combined with targeted oral neuroleptics.
abstract: Nine patients receiving a low dose (25 mg) and ten receiving a standard dose (150 mg) of depot haloperidol every four weeks were assessed every three months for two years. Patients also received targeted oral neuroleptics as needed. No significant between-group differences were found in clinical outcome as measured by number of hospital admissions, days hospitalized, scores on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Global Assessment Scale, and level of extrapyramidal symptoms. Combining low-dose depot and targeted oral neuroleptics was at least as effective as using a standard depot dose and for many patients may provide the best way to reach the minimal effective dose for maintenance treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Huttunen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tuhkanen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Haavisto
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nyholm
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pitkänen
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Raitasuo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romanov
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; C033563:haloperidol decanoate; D006220:Haloperidol