Influence of haloperidol on the relationship of frontal lobe function to psychomotor poverty and disorganization syndromes.
The aim of the study was to examine effects of haloperidol on the relationships between neuropsychological measures of frontal lobe functioning and the schizophrenia syndromes of psychomotor poverty and disorganization. Twenty-one participants with schizophrenia were initially evaluated when clinically stable and chronically treated with haloperidol, and 19 were evaluated again after a 3-week haloperidol-free period. Participants were evaluated with the Trail Making Test, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, the Purdue Pegboard, and psychiatric rating scales at each evaluation. There were significant correlations between schizophrenia syndromes and the tests sensitive to frontal lobe function when participants were medicated but not when drug-free. No significant changes in symptom severity or motor function occurred from the medication to the medication-free evaluation. The results indicate that haloperidol mediates the relationship between tests sensitive to frontal lobe function and the schizophrenia syndromes of psychomotor poverty and disorganization. This mediation effect was not attributable to changes in overall symptom severity or motor function.
Allen
D N
DN
Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Box 455030, Las Vegas, NV 859154-5030, USA. dallen@ccmail.nevada.edu
Anastasiou
A
A
Goldstein
G
G
Gilbertson
M
M
van Kammen
D P
DP
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001590:Benztropine / Q000009:adverse effects; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D012008:Recurrence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D001590:Benztropine; D006220:Haloperidol