The effect of age on the pharmacological management of ambulatory patients treated with depot neuroleptic medications for schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders.
BACKGROUND
Cross-sectional studies indicate that, in comparison to younger patients, older schizophrenic patients have a higher risk for neuroleptic-induced Parkinsonism and tardive dyskinesia (TD). It has been suggested, therefore, that older patients with schizophrenia could be maintained on reduced doses of conventional neuroleptics.


METHODS
We examined the effect of age on psychopharmacological management in a naturalistic study of a group of 165 patients with a clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia or a related psychotic disorder (age range = 21-84 years; subjects > or = 1;45 years n = 86) treated with either haloperidol decanoate or fluphenazine decanoate.


RESULTS
Increasing age was not correlated with total daily dose of neuroleptics or anticholinergic medication. However, a modest negative correlation of age with daily neuroleptic dose was found in patients aged 45 years and older.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study highlight the need for prospective assessments of depot neuroleptic dose requirements in older patients suffering from primary psychotic disorders.
Mamo
David C
DC
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.
Sweet
Robert A
RA
Chengappa
K N Roy
KN
Reddy
Ravinder R
RR
Jeste
Dilip V
DV
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005476:Fluphenazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D011355:Prodrugs; C033563:haloperidol decanoate; C011825:fluphenazine depot; D006220:Haloperidol; D005476:Fluphenazine