Single daily dose chlorpromazine therapy in psychosis

Abstract

A double blind study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of a single bedtime dose of chlorpromazine (300 mg) with divided doses of the same drug (100 mg, thrice daily). Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Nurses' Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation (NOSIE) were administered to 80 acutely psychotic patients who took part in the study. Thirty-one patients in the experimental and 29 in the control group completed this 3-week trial. It was observed that there were no statistically significant differences between the two modes of treatment. Drowsiness was seen more often in the single bedtime schedule. Postural hypotension was observed in both patient groups. The implications of single night-time medication in psychotics is discussed.