TREATMENT OF INHALANT-INDUCED PSYCHOTIC DISORDER WITH CARBAMAZEPINE VERSUS HALOPERIDOL

Objective: The efficacy and adverse effects of carbamazepine and halop eridol were compared in the treatment of inhalant-induced psychotic di sorder. Methods: Forty male patients admitted to an acute psychiatric unit for treatment of inhalant dependence and inhalant-induced organic mental disorder, as diagnosed by DSM-III-R, were randomly assigned to receive five weeks of treatment with carbamazepine or haloperidol in identical-appearing capsules. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and t he DiMascio Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale were administered weekly. Re sults: Both treatment groups improved significantly over time. A reduc tion of symptom severity of 48.3 percent in the carbamazepine group an d 52.7 percent in the haloperidol group was observed, Approximately ha lf the patients in each group were considered treatment responders at the end of the study Adverse effects were significantly more common an d more severe in the haloperidol group. Conclusions: Carbamazepine app ears to have comparable efficacy but fewer adverse effects than halope ridol for the treatment of inhalant-induced psychotic disorder.