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Some Methodological Considerations for the Clinical Evaluation of Neuroleptics‐Comparative Effects of Clozapine and Haloperidol on Schizophrenics
Author(s) -
Hitoshi Itoh M.D.,
Sadanori Miura M.D.,
Gohei Yagi M.D.,
Sakurai Shinsuke,
Ohtsuka Nobuo
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1819.1977.tb02679.x
Subject(s) - haloperidol , clozapine , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , psychology , psychiatry , medicine , pharmacology , neuroscience , dopamine
SUMMARY For the purpose of evaluating objectively the characteristics of clinical effects of clozapine and halopcridol, a double blind comparative trial was conducted on 91 schizophrcnic in‐patients. The clhanges of symptoms were assessed by means of several psychiatric and behavioral rating scales. The results were analyzed by means of nonparametric statistical methods. Furthermore, application of multivariate analysis was considered. After 12 weeks of treatment, though no significant difference in general improvement rate was noted between the two groups, a marked dififerent spectrum of clinical effects was observed according to the rating scales. Clozapine is superior in anti‐delusional, contact promoting and sedative anxiolytic effect, while haloperidol is superior in anti‐autistic effect. Among the side effects, extrapyramidal symptoms appeared significantly more severe in the haloperidol group. The frequency of appearance of fever, was significantly greater in the clozapine group than the other. The four dropout cases of the clozapine group were all caused by fever. Through this clinical trial, clinical availability and validity of various statistical analytical methods were reconsidered.