THE NIFEDIPINE APPLICATION IN THE PROPHYLAXIS OF RELAPSES OF AFFECTIVE AND SCHIZOAFFECTIVE PSYCHOSES

Nifedipine was applied for the secondary prophylaxis of affective phas ic disorders. 21 patients with both affective and schizoaffective psyc hoses were treated with nifedipine for 1 - 3 years (mostly for 2 years ) in a dose of 20 - 60 mg daily (usually 30 - 40 mg). The clear prophy lactic effect of nifedipine was observed in 76,2% of cases. The durati on of affective phases reduced by 44,8% while their frequency decrease d by 40,4% as compared with the control group. The positive therapeuti c effect was more pronounced for manic disorders (the transition of th e disturbances to subclinical, ambulant level). The preventive effect of the drug was more clear in affective than in schizoaffective psycho ses (91,7% and 55,6%, respectively) as well as it was more expressed i n bipolar (84,6%) than in monopolar (62,5%) patients. The low frequenc y (23,8%) of side-effects occurred to be the positive characteristics of nifedipine treatment especially in long-term therapy.