Neuroleptic dose reduction in older psychotic patients

Schizophrenia Research
M J HarrisT L Patterson

Abstract

We conducted a non-randomized, rater-blind study to safely determine the lowest effective neuroleptic dosage in older psychotic patients and to evaluate the clinical, neuropsychological, and psychosocial effects of neuroleptic dosage reduction. Twenty-seven carefully selected patients with schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders over the age of 45 had their dosage tapered by 25% each month to determine their lowest effective dosage. These patients were compared with patients similar in age, gender, and education who were currently off neuroleptics (n = 19) or maintained on neuroleptics (n = 22). All groups were followed for 11 months. Over the follow-up period, 29% of patients in the taper group, 8% of neuroleptic-free patients, and 0% of patients in the maintenance group experienced some increase in psychopathology, although there was no significant change in mean PANSS score in any group, and no patient required hospitalization. Patients in the taper group were maintained on approximately 60% of their original neuroleptic dosage after restabilization. Extrapyramidal symptoms continued to improve over time in the taper group. Neuropsychological testing did not change significantly over time except for those in the taper ...Continue Reading

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