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Treatment of neuroleptic-induced akathisia with the 5-HT2 antagonist mianserin

Double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Michael Poyurovsky ,
Marina Shardorodsky ,
Camil Fuchs ,
Michael Schneidman  and
Abraham Weizman
Michael Poyurovsky
Affiliation:
Research Unit, Tirat Carmel Mental Health Center, Tirat Carmel and Faculty of Medicine, Israel Institute of Technology, Technion, Haifa
Marina Shardorodsky
Affiliation:
Research Unit, Tirat Carmel Mental Health Center, Tirat Carmel and Faculty of Medicine, Israel Institute of Technology, Technion, Haifa
Camil Fuchs
Affiliation:
Department of Statistics and Operations Research, Tel Aviv University
Michael Schneidman
Affiliation:
Research Unit, Tirat Carmel Mental Health Center, Tirat Carmel and Faculty of Medicine, Israel Institute of Technology, Technion, Haifa
Abraham Weizman*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Biological Psychiatry, Geha Psychiatric Hospital, Petah Tiqva, Israel
*
Professor A. Weizman, Geha Psychiatric Hospital, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tiqva 49100, Israel. Tel: 972-3-925 8290; Fax: 972-3-924 1041
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Abstract

Background

Serotonin (5-HT): dopamine imbalance may underlie neuroleptic-induced akathisia.

Aim

To evaluate the efficacy of the 5-HT2 antagonist, mianserin in neuroleptic-induced akathisia.

Methods

Thirty neuroleptic-treated patients with schizophrenia were randomly allocated in a double-blind design to receive either mianserin (15 mg/day) or placebo for five days. Patients were assessed at baseline and on Days 3 and 5 by the Barnes Akathisia Scale (BARS), as well as by other relevant clinical rating scales.

Results

Compared with the placebo group, the mianserin-treated patients showed a significant reduction in all four BARS subscales by Day 5, with mean reductions in the BARS global score of 9.9% and 52.2%, respectively (P=0.006). Response to treatment (a reduction of at least two points on the BARS global subscale), was noted in six patients (40%) in the mianserin group and only one patient (9.1%) in the placebo group (P=0.04, log odds ratio 2.23).

Conclusions

Mianserin at a low dose may be a promising therapeutic option for patients with acute neuroleptic-induced akathisia.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 174 , Issue 3 , March 1999 , pp. 238 - 242
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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Footnotes

Declaration of interest

This study was supported by a grant from Rafa Pharmaceutical Company, Jerusalem, Israel.

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