Zuclopenthixol decanoate in schizophrenia: serum levels and clinical state.

Serum concentrations of zuclopenthixol were determined in a group of 20 patients treated with a depot preparation, zuclopenthixol decanoate in Viscoleo. Clinical assessments according to a Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale, Comprehensive Psychological Rating Scale (CPRS), 16-item subscale for schizophrenia, and the UKU side effect scale were performed on 3 consecutive days of injection. The serum concentrations showed a limited individual variation and a high and significant correlation between dose and serum concentration. One patient had a particularly high serum concentration of zuclopenthixol. This patient also had an elevated concentration of the N-dealkyl metabolite, but a low concentration of the sulphoxide. For serum concentrations versus clinical state and side effects some significant correlations were found. All correlations were positive, which means that the higher the serum concentration the poorer the clinical state of the patient. We think that this probably reflects a common clinical pattern of increasing the dose, when the antipsychotic response is unsatisfactory. The study also showed that for moderately ill patients, who were given the optimum dose of drug, the subgroup of patients not experiencing side effects had significantly lower serum concentrations than the subgroup with side effects.

[Homicide and mental disease]. / Drap og sinnssykdom.

The number of homicides committed by insane persons has increased from 1980 to 1989. Among those charged with homicide and attempted homicide who have been subjected to judicial psychiatric observation, 60% are schizophrenic and 17% have paranoid psychoses. Other psychotic conditions are relatively rare. The homicides took place most frequently within the household and in most cases were psychotically motivated. The cause of the increased frequency of homicides is discussed. The liberal treatment strategy employed at psychiatric institutions, and the short duration of the treatment, are thought to be important in this connection.

Cis(Z)-clopenthixol and clopenthixol in the treatment of acute psychoses and exacerbations of chronic psychoses. A double-blind clinical investigation.

The clinical effect of cis(Z)-clopenthixol has been compared with that of clopenthixol, which is a mixture of the pharmacologically active cis(Z)-isomer and the inactive trans(E)-isomer. In the 4-week double-blind trial were included 20 patients with acute psychoses and exacerbations of chronic psychoses, mainly schizophrenics. Ratings evaluating severity of illness, therapeutic effect, possible interference of side effects with the patient's functioning were done at weeks 0, 2, and 4, at which occasions also the BPRS was filled in. All patients improved, most of them so much that their final BPRS-score was less than half their initial score. In conclusion, the antipsychotic effect of cis(Z)-clopenthixol was found equal to that of clopenthixol whereas the cis(Z)-isomer on a mg/mg basis was twice as active as clopenthixol. Side effects were few, similar, and equally frequent in the two groups, extrapyramidal side effects and drowsiness being the most common.

Serum levels of the isomers of clopenthixol in patients given cis(Z)-clopenthixol or cis(Z)/trans(E)-clopenthixol.

The serum levels of the two geometric isomers of clopenthixol and N-dealkylated clopenthixol were estimated in 9 patients, who received cis(Z)-clopenthixol (Cisordinol, Clopixol tabl.) in one period and the double dose of cis(Z)/trans(E)-clopenthixol (Sordinol, Ciatyl) in another period. Nearly equal concentrations of the neuroleptically active isomer, cis(Z)-clopenthixol, were found in the two periods. This finding is in agreement with the clinical experience, but in disagreement with the administered amounts of cis(Z)-clopenthixol, which were larger when the cis(Z)-isomer was given alone. Highly significant correlations were found between dose and mean serum level of cis(Z)-clopenthixol and between dose and area under the serum concentration curves for 8 of the patients, the ninth patient, who had received additional medication showed deviating results. No indication of transformation of cis(Z)-clopenthixol into trans(E)-clopenthixol or vice versa was found. Trans(E)-clopenthixol was found in the serum samples even after administration for one week with the cis(Z)-clopenthixol tablets indicating a relatively long half-life of the trans(E)-isomer. The cis(Z)-isomer of N-dealkyl clopenthixol was found in about the same concentration as cis(Z)-clopenthixol in both periods, while trans(E)-N-dealkyl clopenthixol occurred in about 4 times higher concentrations in patients who had either been given cis(Z)/trans(E)-clopenthixol before they went into the study or had received it in the first period of this study.

Cis(Z)-clopenthixol and clopenthixol (Sordinol) in chronic psychotic patients. A double-blind clinical investigation.

The clinical effect of cis(Z)-clopenthixol has been compared with that of clopenthixol, which is a mixture of the pharmacologically active cis(Z)-isomer and the inactive trans(E)-isomer. In the 2-month double-blind trial were included 57 psychotic patients, mainly schizophrenics. Ratings evaluating severity of illness, therapeutic effect, possible interference of side effects with the patient's functioning, as well as any individual side effects were done at months 0, 1, and 2. The antipsychotic effect of cis(Z)-clopenthixol was found equal to that of clopenthixol whereas the cis(Z)-isomer on a mg/mg basis was twice as active as clopenthixol. Apart from the finding that the unspecific sedative effect appeared to be less marked with cis(Z)-clopenthixol, the type, degree, and frequency of side effects were the same in the two groups of patients. More than half of the patients experienced no side effects.

Clopenthixol decanoate and perphenazine enanthate in schizophrenic patients. A double-blind Nordic multicentre trial.

The clinical properties of clopenthixol decanoate has been investigated versus perphenazine enanthate in a double-blind clinical multicentre trial including 14 psychiatric hospitals in Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Test treatment was initiated in 172 chronic schizophrenic patients and the planned 6 months test period was completed by 57 patients receiving clopenthixol decanoate and 48 receiving perphenazine enanthate. The therapeutic effect was assessed by means of CGI, BPRS, and NOSIE-30 and was found significant with both test drugs. Significant differences in the effect were seen only in "Hostile-suspiciousness" (BPRS) and "Social interest" (NOSIE-30). For these items clopenthixol decanoate was found superior to perphenazine enanthate. The influence of side effects on the patients' functioning was found to be slightly, but not significantly more troublesome in the perphenazine enanthate patients.

Zuclopenthixol acetate in Viscoleo--a new drug formulation. An open Nordic multicentre study of zuclopenthixol acetate in Viscoleo in patients with acute psychoses including mania and exacerbation of chronic psychoses.

Eighty-three acutely disturbed, psychotic patients were included in an open multicentre study. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical effect of zuclopenthixol acetate in Viscoleo (CPT-A). Each patient received from one to four intramuscular injections of CPT-A during the 6-day study period. The duration of action after one injection was between 2 and 3 days and doses from 50 mg to 150 mg were sufficient for most patients. Treatment with CPT-A caused a pronounced and rapid reduction of the psychotic symptoms. At the end of the 6-day test period the mean total score on BPRS in acute non-manic and exacerbated chronic patients was reduced by more than 50 per cent. In acute manic patients the mean total score on BRMS was reduced by 57 per cent already 1 day after injection. Rapidly after the injection of CPT-A a useful short-acting sedation can be expected, but the risk for oversedation even after a second injection is low. The frequency of unwanted effects, including extrapyramidal reactions, was low and the severity of symptoms was most often mild. With a rapid onset of action, a duration of effect of 2 to 3 days, and few and mild side effects, CPT-A offers advantages over the neuroleptic preparations conventionally used in the initial treatment of acutely disturbed, psychotic patients.

A double-blind comparison of citalopram (Lu 10-171) and amitriptyline in depressed patients.

In a controlled, clinical, multicentre trial comprising a total of 43 patients (17 men and 26 women) citalopram was compared double-blindly with amitriptyline. Nineteen patients of each group were classified as endogeneously depressed, whereas four patients of the citalopram group and one of the amitriptyline group were classified as non-endogenously depressed. The patients were seriously ill with a high frequency of previous depressive episodes and of mental disorders among their closest relatives. Thirteen of the patients in either group had received antidepressants without satisfactory effect before entry into the trial. Each patient was treated for a period of at least 3 weeks with daily citalopram doses of 30-60 mg or daily amitriptyline doses of 75-225 mg. A statistically significant reduction of MADRS scores (total scores as well as each of the 10 individual items) was recorded in both groups. The only difference between the groups was a trend towards a better effect on sleep disturbances in the amitriptyline group. Side-effects were recorded more frequently in the amitriptyline group than in the citalopram group, global assessment of side effects being significantly different in favour of citalopram. It is concluded that citalopram is an effective and safe drug in the treatment of endogenous depression - probably as efficacious as amitriptyline, but with fewer side effects.

A controlled Nordic multicentre study of zuclopenthixol acetate in oil solution, haloperidol and zuclopenthixol in the treatment of acute psychosis.

Zuclopenthixol acetate--a new injectable formulation with a duration of action of 2-3 days--was compared with conventional intramuscular and oral formulations of haloperidol and zuclopenthixol in the initial treatment of acutely disturbed, psychotic patients. The patients were stratified into 3 diagnostic categories: acute psychoses (48 patients), mania (22 patients), and exacerbation of chronic psychoses (73 patients). The patients were rated on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Rating Scale (BRMAS) (only manic patients) and globally on the Clinical Global Impression (CGI). The study was an open, randomized multicentre trial with a 6-day treatment period. The zuclopenthixol acetate patients received 1-4 doses, the haloperidol patients 1-26 and the zuclopenthixol patients 1-22 doses. The assessments on the CGI showed that all 3 treatments caused a clear reduction of the severity of illness scores in all 3 diagnostic categories, with no differences between treatments. The ratings of the acute and chronic psychotic patients on the BPRS also showed significant reductions in scores with no differences between treatments. All 3 treatments caused a rapid remission of symptoms on the BRMAS. Haloperidol induced hypokinesia in significantly more patients than zuclopenthixol acetate after 24 h. Later there were no significant differences between treatments. Zuclopenthixol acetate fulfils many desires for an amended neuroleptic formulation for the initial treatment of acutely disturbed psychotic patients.