A double-blind clinical investigation of cis(Z)-clopenthixol and clopenthixol in chronic schizophrenic patients

Abstract

The therapeutic effect of the neuroleptic cis(Z)-clopenthixol has been compared with that of clopenthixol in mainly chronic schizophrenic patients in a double-blind 8-week trial. Forty-nine of the 54 patients in the trial received clopenthixol in the pre-trial period. Ratings with CGI and a single side effects form were done at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8. The registration of therapeutic effect at week 8 indicated a symptomatological status quo in both groups of patients while there was a tendency of slightly less interference by cis(Z)-clopenthixol with patient's functioning than by clopenthixol. The ratio of therapeutically equipotent cis(Z)-clopenthixol/clopenthixol doses was found to be 1:2. It is suggested that long-term treatment with clopenthixol advantageously may be replaced by cis(Z)-clopenthixol.