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Double‐blind controlled withdrawal of thioridazine treatment in elderly female inpatients with senile dementia
Author(s) -
Findlay D. J.,
Sharma J.,
McEwen J.,
Ballinger B. R.,
MaClennan W. J.,
McHarg A. M.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.930040210
Subject(s) - thioridazine , senile dementia , dementia , medicine , severe dementia , psychiatry , psychology , disease , chlorpromazine
Thirty‐six female inpatients with a clinical diagnosis of senile dementia, Alzheimer type, were entered into a doubleblind withdrawal of their established thioridazine. Over a four‐week period there were no significant differences between the two study groups in terms of cognitive function, behaviour or physical state. There was no evidence of a withdrawal phenomenon and the use of replacement medication was at a similar low level in the two groups. Although significant differences were not established in terms of side‐effect, there was a trend for greater reduction of these for the group in whom treatment was stopped. These data indicated that careful, controlled withdrawal of established thioridazine treatment is a safe procedure which may be useful in circumstances where the contribution of medication is unclear.