The therapeutic effects in senile dementia of haloperidol and cis(Z)‐clopenthixol were compared in a double‐blind, double‐dummy clinical 8‐week study in 47 demented patients after wash‐out periods of 3 weeks or less. Forty patients, most of whom received 0.5 mg haloperidol or 5 mg cis(Z)‐clopenthixol, completed the study in which assessments with the geriatric rating scales of Gottfries‐Cronholm and Crichton in addition to CGI were done at weeks ‐3, 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8. With the Gottfries‐Cronholm Scale few significant changes from week 0 were seen in the two groups of patients. Significant deteriorations at weeks 1 and 8 in the haloperidol group were, however, registered. The only significant difference between the two groups of patients regarded motor activity which was most positively influenced by cis(Z)‐clopenthixol. Accordingly, most results suggesting a difference between the two test drugs were in the favour of cis(Z)‐clopenthixol. With the Crichton and the CGI scales changes in the over‐all impression of the patients were very few. Side effects were mild and transient.

A study of problem-solving styles, employing a method previously used with general practitioners, was carried out with 40 final-year medical students. By giving their ratings on a five-point rating scale of 21-24 statements relating to each of three case histories, an answer index could be computed, expressing each student's tendency to make assertive versus non-assertive decisions. The relationship of this answer index to knowledge (grades and educational level), personality (Eysenck personality inventory [EPI]), and time used in the exercises was examined. High answer index (high degree of decisiveness in the clinical simulations) was significantly correlated with extroverted personality on the EPI (P less than 0.05) and negatively correlated with time spent on the exercises (P less than 0.01), whereas no relationship was found with grades in medical school, educational level, neuroticism on the EPI, or the students' sex and age. The findings are discussed in relation to previous studies on clinical problem-solving.

Seven psychotic inpatients (two women and five men) aged between 18 and 74 years, treated with neuroleptic and antiparkinson drugs, participated in a double-blind study with 1/3 DDD (Defined Daily Dose) of procyclidine, orphenadrine, or trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride against placebo. Euphoric effects were scored on a self-rating scale and extrapyramidal side-effects on the Simpson-Angus rating scale at drug administration and 1, 3 and 6 h thereafter. With regard to euphoric effect, there was a significant (P less than 0.02) difference between start and end point (0 and 6 h) for placebo but not for the active antiparkinson drugs. There was no significant difference in extrapyramidal side-effects. No preference of drug was found, and it was not possible to recognize the patient's own drug among the tested drugs. Side-effects from the antiparkinson drugs were also measured prior to the administration. Five patients did not return to their earlier antiparkinson drugs after the study.

No abstract

A double-blind 12 week trial was undertaken to compare the effects of clomipramine + dixyrazine with clomipramine + placebo in the treatment of panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. Of 45 patients included (21 dixyrazine, 24 placebo), 16 dropped out (6 dixyrazine, 10 placebo). The number of panic attacks and the scores on the panic disorder subscale of the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale were significantly reduced in response to both treatment regimens, but the reduction was significantly greater in the dixyrazine group. The patients' daily functioning was significantly more improved with the dixyrazine combination. The serum concentration of desmethylclomipramine monotherapy was significantly higher and the side effects significantly lower in the combined treatment with dixyrazine than with clomipramine monotherapy. Clomipramine combined with dixyrazine seems superior to clomipramine in the treatment of panic disorder.