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The discontinuance of maintenance neuroleptic therapy in chronic schizophrenic patients: drug and social consequences
Author(s) -
Johnson D. A. W.,
Pasterski G.,
Ludlow J. M.,
Street K.,
Taylor R. D. W.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1983.tb00351.x
Subject(s) - tardive dyskinesia , medicine , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , maintenance therapy , social functioning , psychosis , psychiatry , pharmacotherapy , dyskinesia , drug , chemotherapy , disease , parkinson's disease
‐ In a prospective follow‐up the outcome of 60 chronic schizophrenic patients who discontinued neuroleptic therapy after remaining stable 12–48 months was compared with controls continuing medication. Not only did the drug‐discontinued patients have more relapses ( P < 0.001), but the form of relapse was both more severe and acute, resulting in differences of self‐injury ( P < 0.05), anti‐social behaviour ( P < 0.01), inpatient admissions ( P < 0.001), and the use of compulsory powers ( P < 0.01). In patients who relapsed, both social and work function was affected adversely for some months. Patients who remained relapse‐free without drugs (20%) had a level of work and social function similar to medicated patients. At the end of 18 months the patients who discontinued depot maintenance therapy were found to have been prescribed one‐third more neuroleptic drugs than controls, with a possible increase in the risk of long‐term tardive dyskinesia.