A single-blind study of clocapramine and sulpiride in hospitalized chronic schizophrenic patients

Abstract

The therapeutic effects, safety and side-effects of clocapramine and sulpiride were evaluated in 52 hospitalized chronic schizophrenic patients using a single-blind method during an 8-week trial period. While the final global improvement rating showed clocapramine to be superior to sulpiride, the differences were not statistically significant. The time course of the total psychiatric rating scales (PRS) showed a progressive decline during treatment for both drugs, and at the end of treatment clocapramine proved significantly lower in total PRS than did sulpiride. In the improvement of psychotic symptoms, clocapramine seemed to be superior to sulpiride with respect to motor retardation, delusion, hallucination or disturbance of self-consciousness, social isolation or withdrawal, and recreation or work. Side-effects appeared more frequently with clocapramine than with sulpiride, but abnormal laboratory-test results appeared less in clocapramine-treated patients than in sulpiride-treated ones. Neither side-effects nor abnormal laboratory-test results induced by the two drugs were severe enough to terminate administration. Clocapramine is concluded to have a more favourable effect on negative symptoms, as well as on some positive symptoms of chronic schizophrenia, than sulpiride.