Am J Psychiatry 1975; 132:1315-1317
Copyright © 1975 by American Psychiatric Association
A placebo-controlled study of lithium combined with neuroleptics in chronic schizophrenic patients
JG Small, JJ Kellams, V Milstein and J Moore
Lithium combined with major tranquilizers was administered to 22
hospitalized chronic schizophrenic patients with minimal neurotoxicity or
other side effects. Moreover, 10 of the patients benefited significantly
with lithium as compared to placebo in terms of blind psychiatric and
nursing ratings and nonblind clinical judgments of outcome. These results
contrast with previous negative reports in the literature and the generally
poor prognosis in chronic schizophrenic patients. The authors suggest that
a trial combining lithium with psychotropic drugs is warranted in
schizophrenic patients who do not respond satisfactorily to conventional
treatment
