title: Treatment of neuroleptic-induced akathisia with the 5-HT2 antagonist mianserin. Double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serotonin (5-HT):dopamine imbalance may underlie neuroleptic-induced akathisia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of the 5-HT2 antagonist, mianserin in neuroleptic-induced akathisia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty neuroleptic-treated patients with schizophrenia were randomly allocated in a double-blind design to receive either mianserin (15 mg/day) or placebo for five days. Patients were assessed at baseline and on Days 3 and 5 by the Barnes Akathisia Scale (BARS), as well as by other relevant clinical rating scales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the placebo group, the mianserin-treated patients showed a significant reduction in all four BARS subscales by Day 5, with mean reductions in the BARS global score of 9.9% and 52.2%, respectively (P = 0.006). Response to treatment (a reduction of at least two points on the BARS global subscale), was noted in six patients (40%) in the mianserin group and only one patient (9.1%) in the placebo group (P = 0.04, log odds ratio 2.23).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mianserin at a low dose may be a promising therapeutic option for patients with acute neuroleptic-induced akathisia.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit, Tirat Carmel Mental Health Center, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poyurovsky
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shardorodsky
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schneidman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weizman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017109:Akathisia, Drug-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008803:Mianserin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D008803:Mianserin