Neuroleptic withdrawal in patients meeting criteria for supersensitivity psychosis

Abstract

In an attempt to prospectively validate the existence of supersensitivity psychosis (SSP), five schizophrenic patients meeting Chouinard's criteria for SSP and five non-SSP schizophrenic controls had neuroleptic treatment withdrawn for 2 weeks under double-blind conditions. The sudden worsening of psychotic symptoms and tardive dyskinesia postulated in the SSP group was not observed on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Clinical Global Impressions scale, and the Abbreviated Dyskinesia Rating Scale. In conclusion, the authors' pilot data do not seem to support the existence of SSP.