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An evaluation of the Double-Blind Trial as a Method of Assessing Promazine ("Sparine") in the Treatment of Chronic Psychotic Patients

Warley Hospital, Essex

^* Present address: United Birmingham Hospitals, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

ABSTRACT

Due to skin sensitivity of the nursing staff to chlorpromazine, a single ward contained female chronic schizophrenics who had not been treated with phenothiazines.

A pilot trial on six patients showed marked improvement with a liquid preparation of Sparine (promazine hydrochloride) without affecting the allergic state of the nursing staff, so a double-blind trial in a further 50 patients was started. This consisted of three months therapy with Sparine and three months with placebo. Assessments were made daily and at the end of the study.

Fifty-six per cent. of the patients made a clear-cut clinical improvement on Sparine, but this impression was not sustained by the analysis of the results of the double-blind trial.

The possible reasons for this contradictory state of affairs are discussed.