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Imipramine and phenelzine were ineffective in the treatment of five primary unipolar depressives with delusions, even when plasma levels of imipramine and desmethylimipramine or activity of platelet monoamine oxidase suggested that an adequate dose of drug had been given. Four patients went on to receive ECT and all responded well. Five non-delusional patients responded satisfactorily to the antidepressant drug given. Nine out of ten subjects were women. Non-delusional patients showed some placebo response. ECT is considered to be the treatment of choice in the acute phase of delusional depression in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flutroline hydrochloride, a gamma carboline manifesting neuroleptic activity, was administered in a double-blind fashion in single daily dosages of 1, 5, 10, 20, and 100 mg to 48 hospitalized schizophrenic patients over a period of four weeks. During this period, weekly evaluations were made of response employing standardized psychiatric ratings. Plasma prolactin (PRL) levels were obtained at the termination of previous neuroleptic medication and at two-week intervals during treatment with the investigational compound. Examination of the initial PRL levels indicated that they could be grouped into those above, within, and below the normal range. Comparisons of these initial levels with those following the administration of flutroline suggested an improved methodology for determining optimal neuroleptic dosage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an introduction into a clinical study of one of a new group of compounds having neuroleptic potential, the background and characteristics of the gamma carbolines, particularly flutroline, are cited in the general context of a review of the use of antipsychotic drugs in psychiatry. In the four-week double-blind trial involving dosages of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 100 mg, 48 hospitalized schizophrenic patients were given the tryptoline derivative flutroline on a once-a-day basis. Outcome criteria obtained weekly, including the incidence of side effects, standardized psychiatric ratings, and clinical global impressions of psychopathology, indicated that flutroline was a safe and effective antipsychotic drug. Data suggested that dosages of 20 mg and above offered the best potential for optimal clinical effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparison of a chemical analytic technique (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) with that of the dopamine receptor blocking assay in a study involving seven schizophrenic patients being administered a fixed dosage of haloperidol (20 mg) demonstrated a high degree of correspondence in the quantification of the plasma levels of the neuroleptic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pilot study of a small group of schizophrenic patients manifesting symptoms of a depressive nature was treated in a double-blind study in which viloxazine or a placebo was administered in combination with either chlorpromazine or haloperidol. There appeared to be no difference between the viloxazine-treated group and the placebo-treated group, although the study raised some question as to the adequacies of the dosage utilized since there was an absence of any apparent side effects. In view of these issues concerning the clinical merit of the combination, this obviously requires further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the results of a study of the effect of glutamic acid on delinquent adult male mental defectives. Problems associated with the treatment of adults with mental deficiency who commit antisocial act which necessitate their commitment in a state hospitals are discussed. The study showed that glutamic acid has a stimulating effect on the IQ of the adult mental defective delinquent.

The article presents a study which examines the extrapyramidal symptoms of patients with tardive dyskinesia in Maryland. It aims to determine the relationship of tardive dyskinesia symptoms to the cessation of neuroleptic medication, increase in dosage levels and use of antiparkinson agents. A sample of chronic hospital in-patients at Spring Grove State Hospital in Maryland served as subjects of the study. The patients' medical-psychiatric records were reviewed and conventional neurological examinations and analysis of clinical laboratory records were conducted. Results indicate that symptom severity is lower during neuroleptic treatment. Antiparkinson drugs failed to reduce symptom manifestation and no relationship between symptom severity and dosage was found.

The article discusses the dimensions of manifest depression in newly hospitalized patients. Dimensions obtained in the analysis agreed very closely with factors which had previously been identified in psychiatric ratings of schizophrenic patients. This finding was interpreted as evidence that certain basic factor dimensions appear in various different types of patients. Clinically, manifest depression is often a prominent presenting symptom of individuals seeking admission to a psychiatric hospital.