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Severe akathisia causing neuroleptic failure: An indication for lithium therapy in schizophrenia?
Author(s) -
Shalev A.,
Hermesh H.,
Munitz H.
Publication year - 1987
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.1600-0447.1987.tb02944.x
Subject(s) - akathisia , psychosis , lithium carbonate , antipsychotic , lithium (medication) , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , trihexyphenidyl , extrapyramidal symptoms , clonazepam , psychiatry , medicine , psychology , ion , physics , quantum mechanics , ionic bonding
Several neuroleptics recurrently failed to ameliorate psychosis in three schizophrenic patients. Failures were caused by recurrent intractable akathisia, unresponsive to diazepam and trihexyphenidyl. Lacking this extrapyramidal side effect, lithium carbonate was tried and proved an effective antipsychotic. It is suggested that in schizophrenic psychosis lithium is a rational therapeutic option in cases of neuroleptic intolerance and failures due to akathisia.