[Prolonged-action drugs in psychiatric therapeutics : gaps and needs]

The most accomplished model in this type of therapy is presently that of the long-acting neuroleptic (L.A.N.). Some target-symptoms are privileged : schizophrenic inertia (piportil or flupentixol derivatives), delusions (fluphenazine derivatives). But on the other hand, a sedative action has not been considered as benefic in long-acting drugs, and we're still in need of an L.A.N. whose hallucinolytic action would favourably compared with haloperidol. In the field of antidepressants, improvements appear as necessary. It is highly desirable to find compounds whose action would be really powerful, whose duration of action would last more than 24 or 48 hours ; the compound being administred either as an embonate or intra-muscularly in an attempt to limit the risks of suicide. Researches are being conducted : 1) to obtain long-acting antiparkinsonian correctors ; 2) to find out some form of lithium salts which, after one administration, would allow a stable nycthemeral lithiemy.