RT Journal
A1 Marder SR, van Kammen DP, Docherty JP, Rayner J, Bunney WE, Jr
T1 PRedicting drug-free improvement in schizophrenic psychosis
JF Archives of General Psychiatry
JO Archives of General Psychiatry
YR 1979
FD September 1
VO 36
IS 10
SP 1080
OP 1085
DO 10.1001/archpsyc.1979.01780100050004
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1979.01780100050004
AB • In a sample of 22 psychotic schizophrenic patients, eight improved substantially during a 30-day drug-free period. The drug-free improver group differed from the nonimprover group in demonstrating a later age of onset, briefer psychotic episodes, shorter hospitalizations, and better prognostic scores on the Phillips Scale, Strauss-Carpenter Modified Prognostic Scale, and the Vaillant Scale. After drug withdrawal, drug-free improvers frequently demonstrated further improvement when treated with doses of neuroleptic drugs that were substantially lower than the clinically recommended doses. The authors raise the question as to whether the drug-free improvers may represent a subgroup of schizophrenic patients who are being overtreated presently by standard neuroleptic practice.