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Neuroleptics plus benzodiazepines in schizophrenia
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Cardiovascular functions during long-term treatment with neuroleptic drugs Jergensen, E.O. and Pedersen, D. Medical Department, Set. Hans Hospital, 4000 Roskilde and Psychiatric Department, Bispebjerg Hospital, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark Key words: Tranquillizing agents, major;, Cardiovascular system; Neuroleptic drugs; Cardiovascular functions
Study material, Methods and Results 109 patients who had been treated for more than six months with neuroleptic drugs were studied by conventional measurements of blood pressure (BP) and electrocardiography (ECG), by exercise electrocardiography and echocardiography. Thirty-nine patients were treated with clozapine (Group I), thirteen with thioridazin or chlorprothixen (Group 11), thirty-seven with flupenthizol or haloperidol or xuclopenthixol or perphenazine (Group HI), and twenty with a neuroleptic drug in combination with other psychopharmacologicai drugs. Patients in Group IT had a significant lower bloodpressure at rest than others and patients in Group HI had a significant higher bloodpressure during exercise than others. Patients in Group I en IV had a higher pulsemte at rest and a minor pulseresponse to exercise than others. Echocardiography at rest and during the first five minutes following exercise showed normal and similar mean values of left ventricular output in all groups. However, compared to others significantly more patients in Group I (17 of the 39) who had had normal left ventricular outputvalues at rest responded abnormally to exercise with unchanged or lower values.
Neuroleptics plus benzodiazepines in schizophrenia Chinchilla, A., Vega, M., Cebollada, A., Padin, J., Durgn, L., Arias, F., Jimdnez, D., Martin, M.J. and Llinares, C. Psychiatric Unit, Ram6n y Cajal Hospital, Madrid, Spain Key words: Schizophrenia; Neuroleptics; Benzodiazepines
We present in this issue the results of a prospective study with 44 chronic schizophrenic outpatients, treated with standard neuroleptic drugs and concomitantly with Ciorazepate (range 50-100 rag/day). Various parameters were analyzed (BPRS, HARS, Global Clinical Impression, and Side Effects), in order to evaluate the modification of these variables compared with the pretreatment values (before Clomzepate introduction). The mean duration of the illness was 8.16 (years). 40% had suffered one episode of postpsychotic depression or amotivational syndrome. The mean total BPRS score decreased from 44.2 (at day 0) to 28.5 (day 30) and 17.6 (day 60). A significative improvement in the HARS from 18.9 (day 0) to 5.6 (at day 60). The GCI in follow up was considerably improved in the 62% of patients at the end of the two months. We comment the results and discuss the hypotheses of the role played by benzodiazepines as a complementary treatment with neuroleptic drugs in schizophrenia.
Cardiovascular functions during long-term treatment with neuroleptic drugs Jergensen, E.O. and Pedersen, D. Medical Department, Set. Hans Hospital, 4000 Roskilde and Psychiatric Department, Bispebjerg Hospital, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark Key words: Tranquillizing agents, major;, Cardiovascular system; Neuroleptic drugs; Cardiovascular functions
Study material, Methods and Results 109 patients who had been treated for more than six months with neuroleptic drugs were studied by conventional measurements of blood pressure (BP) and electrocardiography (ECG), by exercise electrocardiography and echocardiography. Thirty-nine patients were treated with clozapine (Group I), thirteen with thioridazin or chlorprothixen (Group 11), thirty-seven with flupenthizol or haloperidol or xuclopenthixol or perphenazine (Group HI), and twenty with a neuroleptic drug in combination with other psychopharmacologicai drugs. Patients in Group IT had a significant lower bloodpressure at rest than others and patients in Group HI had a significant higher bloodpressure during exercise than others. Patients in Group I en IV had a higher pulsemte at rest and a minor pulseresponse to exercise than others. Echocardiography at rest and during the first five minutes following exercise showed normal and similar mean values of left ventricular output in all groups. However, compared to others significantly more patients in Group I (17 of the 39) who had had normal left ventricular outputvalues at rest responded abnormally to exercise with unchanged or lower values.
Neuroleptics plus benzodiazepines in schizophrenia Chinchilla, A., Vega, M., Cebollada, A., Padin, J., Durgn, L., Arias, F., Jimdnez, D., Martin, M.J. and Llinares, C. Psychiatric Unit, Ram6n y Cajal Hospital, Madrid, Spain Key words: Schizophrenia; Neuroleptics; Benzodiazepines
We present in this issue the results of a prospective study with 44 chronic schizophrenic outpatients, treated with standard neuroleptic drugs and concomitantly with Ciorazepate (range 50-100 rag/day). Various parameters were analyzed (BPRS, HARS, Global Clinical Impression, and Side Effects), in order to evaluate the modification of these variables compared with the pretreatment values (before Clomzepate introduction). The mean duration of the illness was 8.16 (years). 40% had suffered one episode of postpsychotic depression or amotivational syndrome. The mean total BPRS score decreased from 44.2 (at day 0) to 28.5 (day 30) and 17.6 (day 60). A significative improvement in the HARS from 18.9 (day 0) to 5.6 (at day 60). The GCI in follow up was considerably improved in the 62% of patients at the end of the two months. We comment the results and discuss the hypotheses of the role played by benzodiazepines as a complementary treatment with neuroleptic drugs in schizophrenia.