TREATMENT OF SCHIZOPHRENIC DISORDER, PARANOID TYPE, WITH INTRAMUSCULAR RECOMBINANT ALPHA-2B INTERFERON

Twenty patients meeting DSM-III criteria for Schizophrenic Disorder, P aranoid Type were studied. After a 30 day drug-free period the patient s were randomized in two groups. During a year, patients in Group 1 re ceived intramuscular injections of a placebo while Group 2 received re combinant IFN alpha-2b. Both groups took anti-psychotic medication (AP M) as needed on an individual basis, depending on their psychiatric sy mptomatology. Double blind evaluations, were performed at the beginnin g and at the end of the trial, using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scal e (BPRS) and the Reyes Scale for Social Evolution (RSSE). Information about relapses was gathered such as months without relapse, number and duration of the relapses and maximum dosages of APM given for relapse control. The statistical analysis of the results was performed with a matched pairs sign or Student's t tests for comparisons of each group before and after treatment. Groups were compared between them using t he Fisher's exact test for frequencies and Student's t test for contin uous variables. In Group 1: only one patient improved on the BPRS scor e; two had improved ratings on the RSSE; 2 patients got worse; and the re were no changes in the rest of the group; three patients had no rel apses and one increased in relapse frequency. These changes were not s ignificant. The rate of relapses per year and their duration were not significantly modified in Group 1. The maximum dose of APM required fo r their relapse control was larger than before treatment although not significantly. All these patients required continuous APM. In Group 2 (IFN treated): 6 patients had improved BPRS scores (N = 6, K = 6, p < 0.01) and 5 improved their RSSE scores (n = 5, K = 5, p < 0.05). In 5 patients there were no relapses on their frequency decreased. There wa s significant reduction in the duration of the relapses (37.8 +/- 14.6 to 20.7 +/- 12.5 days; t = 4.83; d.f. = 9; p = 0.0009) after treatmen t. Only 3 patients in Group 2 needed continuous APM after a relapse an d the maximum dose required for control was significantly less (1281 /- 527 to 687 +/- 552 chlorpromazine-equivalent mg. per day; t = 5.56, p < 0.001). Comparisons between groups showed advantage for the IFN t reated group in the BPRS change, proportion of patients needing contin uous APM and integral evaluation. These results indicate that alpha IF N may be useful in the treatment of Schizophrenic Disorder, Paranoid T ype.