The results clearly demonstrate the superiority of antipsychotic drugs compared to placebo in preventing relapse. This effect must be weighed against the side effects of antipsychotic drugs. Future studies should focus on outcomes of social participation and clarify the long-term morbidity and mortality associated with these drugs.
Penfluridol maintenance therapy in schizophrenia: a controlled study.
Twenty eight chronic schizophrenics were assigned in a double blind fashion to treatment with penfluridol or placebo for a period of 12 weeks. The clinical picture including the side effects were monitored regularly, whenever the clinical picture deteriorated haloperidol in individually adjusted doses was added to the treatment regimen. By the end of the study 12 out of the 14 placebo patients required haloperidol as compared to only 1 of the 14 penfluridol patients. Evaluation of the results showed no significant differences between the two groups or between the baseline and the final ratings in each group. This trial has confirmed the previous reports that penfluridol is a suitable drug for maintenance therapy in schizophrenic patients.