A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED DOUBLE-BLIND-STUDY OF ZUCLOPENTHIXOL ACETATE COMPARED TO HALOPERIDOL IN ACUTE-PSYCHOSIS

This study is a double blind randomized controlled trial comparing zuc lopenthixol acetate to haloperidol administered parenterally initially and followed by oral medication for 28 days in the treatment of acute psychosis. The sample included 44 patients with schizophrenia, schizo phreniform disorder and substance-induced psychotic disorder who requi red acute neuroleptic treatment. The patients were assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Clinical Global Improvement Sca le (CGI) and the Simpson Angus Scale (SAS). While patients in both gro ups improved on all outcome measures, there was no significant differe nces between the two agents in terms of either efficacy or tolerabilit y. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.