A comparison of masking effects of haloperidol versus molindone in tardive dyskinesia

An experimental method was utilized to compare the masking effects of two neuroleptic agents--molindone and haloperidol--on 18 neuroleptic-treated schizophrenic patients exhibiting operationally defined withdrawal-exacerbated tardive dyskinesia. After a week on one of these two medications at preestablished doses equivalent to that of the pre-study neuroleptic, molindone-masked total AIMS scores by significantly less (12%) than haloperidol (27%). Similarly, during a second week when the dose of these neuroleptics was equivalent to 200% that of the pre-study dose, molindone masked the total AIMS score significantly less (23%) as compared to haloperidol (53%). Several interpretations of this finding are considered. This study demonstrates the feasibility of a method that may offer a model for understanding pharmacological differences among neuroleptic medications.