Am J Psychiatry 1981; 138:608-612
Copyright © 1981 by American Psychiatric Association
Effects of neuroleptic adjustment on clinical condition and tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenic patients
MH Branchey, LB Branchey and MA Richardson
The authors decreased neuroleptic medication in 21 chronic schizophrenic
patients in an attempt to minimize the risks of tardive dyskinesia. Level
of psychopathology and severity of dyskinetic symptoms were monitored while
the neuroleptic was gradually decreased over 3 months and then
discontinued. Only 1 patient relapsed during drug decrease; however, 15
patients relapsed within 6 months after drug withdrawal. After relapse,
medication was gradually increased. The doses needed to induce recovery
were higher than those which had been sufficient to prevent relapse during
gradual drug reduction. Dyskinetic symptoms were not significantly modified
during drug reduction but increased significantly after drug
discontinuation.
