Dose reduction of high-dose first-generation antipsychotics or switch to ziprasidone in long-stay patients with schizophrenia: A 1-year double-blind randomized clinical trial

Long-stay patients with severe schizophrenia are frequently treated with high doses of first-generation antipsychotics (FGA). Dose reduction or switching to ziprasidone may reduce the severity of negative symptoms and side effects.We investigated in a randomized double-blind trial whether a dose-reduction strategy to achieve an adequate dose of a FGA (5  mg/day haloperidol equivalents, n = 24) or switching to ziprasidone (160 mg/day, n = 24) in treatment resistant patients would decrease negative symptoms after 1 year of treatment.
Source: European Neuropsychopharmacology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Source Type: research