Neuroleptic dosage regimens in psychotic inpatients: a retrospective comparison

The authors examined the inpatient records of consecutively discharged psychotic patients treated with neuroleptics in 1976 and a similar group of patients treated in 1985, when drug regimens at our institution changed considerably. Although demographic parameters were quite similar in the 2 years, the group of patients treated in 1985 received significantly less neuroleptic medication during the course of treatment. Nonetheless, clinical outcome in 1985 was as good as that in 1976. The implications of this result, that low dosages may be as efficacious as high dosages while exposing patients to less neuroleptic medication, are discussed.