Beneficial effect of the addition of the 5-HT 2A/2C and alpha2 antagonist mianserin to ongoing haloperidol treatment in drug-resistant chronically hospitalized schizophrenic patients.
Atypical neuroleptics that block serotonin 2A (5-HT 2A) and dopamine 2 (D2) receptors have been shown to possess efficacious antipsychotic activity. We assessed the efficacy of the addition of the 5-HT 2A/2C and alpha2 antagonist mianserin to ongoing haloperidol treatment in chronically hospitalized (> 10 years) drug-resistant schizophrenic patients (N = 12). The patients were assessed at baseline and every three months for one year with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Clinical Global Impression. Results showed a significant (but < 10%) improvement in the core symptoms of schizophrenia; however, only the reduction (by 43%) in anxiety was clinically relevant (P < 0.0001). The beneficial effect of mianserin may be related to the combined blockade of 5-HT 2A and histamine (H1) receptors.
Grinshpoon
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Mental Health Service, Israel Ministry of Health and Israel Defense Force, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
Valevski
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Moskowitz
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Weizman
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D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008803:Mianserin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D008803:Mianserin; D006220:Haloperidol