LOW-DOSE AND STANDARD-DOSE DEPOT HALOPERIDOL COMBINED WITH TARGETED ORAL NEUROLEPTICS

Nine patients receiving a low dose (25 mg) and tell receiving a standa rd dose (150 mg) of depot haloperidol every four weeks were assessed e very three months for two years. Patients also received targeted oral neuroleptics as needed. No significant between-group differences were found in clinical outcome as measured by number of hospital admissions , days hospitalized, scores on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Global Assessment Scale, and level of extrapyramidal symptoms. Com bining low-dose depot and targeted oral neuroleptics was at least as e ffective as using a standard depot dose and for many patients may prov ide the best way to reach the minimal effective dose for maintenance t reatment.