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A Comparison of Tetrabenazine and Chlorpromazine in Chronic Schizophrenia

Royal Edinburgh Hospital

P. A. Barker, M.B., M.R.C.P.E., D.P.M., D.C.H., Senior registrar, Child psychiatry Newcastle General Hospital^*

This work was carried out when the first and third authors were registrars in the Craig House section of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.

ABSTRACT

1. A controlled trial was carried out to compare the efficacy of tetrabenazine with that of chlorpromazine in chronic schizophrenia. Fifty-two female patients in two matched groups were studied over a period of twenty weeks.
   
2. Both groups of patients showed significant improvement during treatment. The trend was for chlorpromazine to be more active in controlling psychomotor over-activity and for tetrabenazine to be particularly effective in lessening thought disorder.
   
3. Although side-effects caused suspension of treatment in five patients in the tetrabenazine group, the drug may be safely administered to patients in hospital and appears to be worthy of more extensive trial.