Lithium combined with neuroleptics in chronic schizophrenic and schizoaffective patients

Abstract

In a placebo-controlled double-blind crossover study lithium carbonate was added to the neuroleptic treatment of 11 chronic schizophrenic and 7 schizoaffective inpatients. Nurses' ratings of behavior indicated significant improvement in 8 patients in agitation or manic behavior, 5 patients in psychosis, and 5 patients in depression. A greater initial severity of symptoms, presence of affective symptoms and episodic course characterized the favorable response group. No neurotoxicity was encountered in this study.