Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-zzh7m Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T09:15:07.076Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

High-Dose Propranolol in Schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Graham P. Sheppard*
Affiliation:
Warley Hospital, Essex

Summary

Eight male schizophrenics were treated in an open study with d.l. propranolol. The dose was increased by 160 mg/day until a maximum of 2,400 mg/day was achieved on day 15, and this remained constant until day 21. Seven patients showed significant clinical evidence of psychiatric improvement, while the incidence of toxic side-effects was low. There was wide inter-patient variation in plasma levels of propranolol. Despite a significant increase of plasma propranolol between day 15 and day 21 of the study, there was no significant change in serum prolactin.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1979 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Atsmon, A., Blum, I., Wijsenbeek, H., Moaz, B., Steiner, M. & Ziegelman, G. (1971) The short term effects of adrenergic blocking agents in a small group of psychotic patients. Psychiatria Neurologia Neurochirugia, 74, 251–8.Google Scholar
Baker, R., Hall, J. N., Hutchison, K. & Bridge, G. (1977) Symptom changes in chronic schizophrenic patients on a token economy: a controlled experiment. British Journal of Psychiatry, 131, 381–94.Google Scholar
Burt, D. R., Creese, I. & Snyder, S. H. (1976) Properties of [3H] haloperidol and [3H] dopamine binding associated with dopamine receptors in calf brain membranes. Molecular Pharmacology, 12, 800–12.Google Scholar
Carlsson, C. (1976) Propranolol in the treatment of alcoholism: a review. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 52, (Suppl. 4), 166–7.Google ScholarPubMed
Elliott, F. A. (1977) Propranolol for the control of belligerent behaviour following acute brain damage. Annals of Neurology, 1, 489–91.Google Scholar
Green, A. R. & Grahame-Smith, D. G. (1976) (—) Propranolol inhibits the behavioural response of rats to increased 5-hydroxy tryptamine in the central nervous system. Nature, 262, 594–6.Google Scholar
Guy, W., Cleary, P. & Nonato, R. R. (1975) Methodological implications of a large central data system. In Proceedings of IXth Congress, CINP. Amsterdam: Excerpta Medica.Google Scholar
Guy, W. & Cleary, P. (1976a) Factor analysis of the NOSIE. In ECDEU Assessment Manual for Psychopharmacology. Ed. Guy, William, pp. 265273. Maryland, USA: Department of Health Education and Welfare.Google Scholar
Guy, W. (1976b) Global Psychiatric Scales. In ECDEU Assessment Manual for Psychopharmacology. Ed. Guy, Williams, pp. 217222. Maryland, USA: Department of Health Education and Welfare.Google Scholar
Hanssen, T., Heyden, T., Sunberg, I., Wetterberg, L. & Eneroth, P. (1978) Decrease in serum prolactin after propranolol in schizophrenia. Lancet, i, 101.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Honigfeld, G. & Klett, C. (1965) The Nurses Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation (NOSIE): a new scale for measuring improvement in chronic schizophrenia. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 21, 6571.Google Scholar
Laverty, R. & Taylor, K. M. (1968) Propranolol uptake into the central nervous system and the effect on rat behaviour and amine metabolism. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 20, 605–9.Google Scholar
Matthysse, S. (1973) Antipsychotic drug actions. A clue to the neuropathology of schizophrenia. Federation Proceedings, 32, 200–5.Google Scholar
Mayer-Gross, W., Slater, E. & Roth, M. (1969) Clinical Psychiatry. London: Bailliere.Google Scholar
Melander, A., Danielson, B., Schersten, B. & Wahlin, E. (1977) Enhancement of the bioavailability of propranolol and metoprolol by food. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 22 (1), 108–12.Google Scholar
Meltzer, H. Y. & Fang, U. S. (1976) The effect of neuroleptics on serum prolactin in schizophrenic patients. Archives of General Psychiatry, 33, 279–86.Google Scholar
Myers, M. G., Lewis, P. J., Reid, J. L. & Dollery, C. T. (1975) Brain concentrations of propranolol in relation to hypotensive effect on the rabbit with observations on brain propranolol levels in man. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 192 (2), 327–35.Google Scholar
Nasrallah, H. A., Freed, W. J., Rogol, A. & Wyatt, R. J. (1977) Propranolol and prolactin. Lancet, ii, 1175.Google Scholar
Overall, J. E. & Gorham, D. R. (1962) The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Psychological Rep., 10, 799812.Google Scholar
Ridges, A. P., Lawton, K., Harper, P., Ghosh, C. & Hindson, N. (1977) Propranolol in schizophrenia. Lancet, ii, 986.Google Scholar
Shand, D. G., Nuckolls, E. M. & Oates, J. A. (1970) Plasma propranolol levels in adults with observations in four children. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 11, 112–20.Google Scholar
Suzman, M. M. (1976) Propranolol in the treatment of anxiety. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 52 (Suppl. 4), 168–74.Google ScholarPubMed
Tyrer, P. F. & Lader, M. H. (1974) Response to propranolol and diazepam in somatic anxiety and psychic anxiety. British Medical Journal, 11, 1516.Google Scholar
Wiesel, F. (1977) Effects of the isomeric forms of propranolol on central monoamine metabolism in regions of rat brain. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology, 1, 83–9.Google Scholar
Yorkstone, N. J., Zaki, S. A., Malik, M. K. U., Morris-son, R. C. & Havard, C. W. H. (1974) Propranolol in the control of schizophrenic symptoms. British Medical Journal, iv, 633–5.Google Scholar
Yorkstone, N. J., Zaki, S. A., Themen, J. F. A. & Havard, C. W. H. (1976a) Propranolol to control schizophrenic symptoms: 55 patients. Advances in Clinical Pharmacology, 12, 91104.Google Scholar
Yorkstone, N. J., Zaki, S. A., Themen, J. F. A. & Havard, C. W. H. (1976b) Safeguards in the treatment of schizophrenia with propranolol. Postgraduate Medical Journal, Vol. 52. (Suppl. 4), 175–80.Google Scholar
Yorkstone, N. J., Zaki, S. A., Pitcher, D. R., Gruzelier, J. H., Hollander, D. & Sergeant, H. G. S. (1977) Propranolol as an adjunct to the treatment of schizophrenia. Lancet, ii, 575–8.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.