Thiothixene, thioridazine, and placebo in male chronic schizophrenic patients

Abstract

The population of a male chronic schizophrenic ward was selected for treatment with thiothixene (Navane) (35 subjects), thioridazine (Mellaril) Central Islip State HospitalThe antipsychotic activity of thiothixene ( N avane ), the thioxanthene analogue of thioproperazine, has been the subject of clinical study for several years. A review of nonblind studies indicates that improvement was noted in 50 per cent of patients with chronic schizophrenia.3 , 9-12 Efficacy has also been reported in children and in acute psychosis,2, 5,7,13 In these trials, dosage ranged from 5 to 120 mg" with an optimal dosage between 10 and 30 mg. daily. Most studies have been of 1 to 4 months' duration, but other workers have given an Received for publication Dec. 20, 1967. Accepted for publication April 9, 1968. 456average dose in excess of 60 mg. for a year with good results.' One investigator reported that no other phenothiazine or butyrophenone compound demonstrated significantly greater therapeutic efficacy under similar conditions over the past five years of drug studies on his research ward.