title: Effect of antiviral amantadine treatment on elderly chronic schizophrenia patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In compliance with public health measures initiated by the Israel Ministry of Health following an outbreak of influenza, amantadine was administered to all patients in the psychogeriatric department of Lev Hasharon Mental Health Center to reduce transmission and illness severity in this susceptible population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the potential beneficial effects of amantadine on elderly hospitalized patients with persistent schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective case review of the treatment effects of amantadine on the mental, cognitive and clinical states of elderly chronic schizophrenic patients who received concomitant amantadine treatment and were routinely evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Mini Mental State Examination, and Sandoz Clinical Assessment Geriatric Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences before and after amantadine treatment were noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Amantadine did not influence the mental, cognitive and clinical states of elderly schizophrenia patients and thus can be considered as an anti-influenza preventive measure for this population, when indicated.
authors.affiliation: Psychogeriatric Department, Lev HaSharon Mental Health Center, Netanya, Israel. bfinkel@lev-hasharon.co.il
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Finkel
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: Yuval
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Melamed
authors.forename: Rena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kurs
authors.forename: Avi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bleich
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000547:Amantadine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000547:Amantadine