Diazepam treatment of early signs of exacerbation in schizophrenia

Objective: Therapeutic intervention at the earliest phase of symptom exacer bation in schizophrenia is an important clinical need, but specific pharmac otherapeutic interventions for this phase of illness have not been establis hed. This study examined diazepam efficacy for this phase of treatment. Met hod: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial with 53 schizophrenic patien ts compared diazepam with placebo (with fluphenazine treatment for a compar ison group). Treatment was initiated at the earliest signs of exacerbation, and symptom progression was the dependent measure used to evaluate efficac y. Results: Diazepam was statistically superior to placebo in preventing sy mptom progression and was comparable to fluphenazine. Conclusions: Efficacy data support the use of diazepam in treating prodromal and early warning s igns of symptom exacerbation in schizophrenia. This therapeutic strategy ma y be especially important for patients who refuse antipsychotic drugs or as a supplemental approach in a treatment plan that emphasizes low-dose antip sychotic therapy.