Am J Psychiatry 1984; 141:16-19
Copyright © 1984 by American Psychiatric Association
Response to antipsychotic medication: the doctor's and the consumer's view
T Van Putten, PR May and SR Marder
The subjective response to antipsychotic medication was systematically
evaluated in two samples of schizophrenic patients, one treated with
haloperidol, the other with thiothixene. For both groups, a dysphoric
response to the first dose was found to be a powerful predictor of
noncompliance. A persisting dysphoric response was associated with a poor
clinical outcome. Dysphoric responses were powerfully associated with
akathisia. Patients' subjective responses were consistent throughout
therapy, and there was moderate agreement between the patients' evaluation
of the medication and the staff's ratings of improvement. The authors
suggest that the subjective response to antipsychotic medication should not
be dismissed and that dysphoric responses should be acknowledged.
