Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026
07:35
Behavioral Characterization of Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizures: Moving Beyond the Racine Scale
Published on: July 8, 2025
1.8K
Trifluoperazine versus placebo for schizophrenia.
Kai Koch1, Kamel Mansi, Euan Haynes
1School of Medicine, The University of Nottingham, University Park, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|January 14, 2014
Summary
Trifluoperazine effectively treats schizophrenia, reducing relapses compared to placebo, but may increase adverse effects. More large, independent trials are needed to confirm these findings for schizophrenia treatment.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Pharmacology
- Health Economics
Background:
- Trifluoperazine is a potent typical antipsychotic for schizophrenia.
- Evidence on its comparative effectiveness and economic impact is synthesized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the absolute effects of trifluoperazine versus placebo for schizophrenia.
- To critically appraise the resource use, cost, and economic evaluation of trifluoperazine.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of randomized clinical trials comparing trifluoperazine with placebo.
- Searches of specialized databases (Cochrane Schizophrenia Group, CSzGHED).
- Data extraction using intention-to-treat analysis and risk ratios; GRADE assessment.
Main Results:
- Trifluoperazine showed significant clinical global state improvement (low quality evidence).
- Fewer participants receiving trifluoperazine left studies early due to relapse (low quality evidence).
- Equivocal results for study withdrawal, adverse effects, symptom intensification, and agitation; potential cost savings identified with caveats.
Conclusions:
- Trifluoperazine is an effective antipsychotic for schizophrenia, consistent with existing evidence.
- Increased risk of extrapyramidal adverse effects is supported.
- Low to very low GRADE evidence limits clinical implications; large, CONSORT-adherent trials are needed.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:26Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
706
Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation.
706
01:28Drug Therapy
449
The advent of drug therapy has profoundly shaped modern mental health care, providing targeted treatments for a range of psychological disorders. Psychotherapeutic drugs, classified into antianxiety, antidepressant, and antipsychotic medications, address symptoms across anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. While these medications have transformed patient outcomes, they require careful management due to their potential side effects and limitations.
Antianxiety Medications
Antianxiety Medications
449
01:28Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview
1.2K
The term "psychosis" refers to a spectrum of mental disorders characterized by abnormal thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors. It can manifest as mood disorders, dementia, delirium with psychotic features, substance-induced psychosis with psychotic features, brief psychotic disorder, delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia. Among all these disorders, schizophrenia is the most common psychotic disorder, affecting 1% of the worldwide population. Psychotic...
1.2K
01:21Antipsychotic Drugs: Typical and Atypical Agents
1.3K
Antipsychotic drugs are classified into first-generation (typical) drugs including phenothiazines; and second-generation (atypical) drugs. Chlorpromazine hydrochloride (Thorazine), a phenothiazine derivative, broadly impacts the central, autonomic, and endocrine systems. This drug, along with typical agents like haloperidol (Haldol), primarily works by antagonizing D2 receptors, thus reducing dopaminergic neurotransmission. However, typical antipsychotics can cause side effects such as sedation...
1.3K
01:21Antipsychotic Drugs: Therapeutic Uses and Side Effects
1.2K
Antipsychotic drugs primarily block dopamine and serotonin receptors and cholinergic, adrenergic, and histaminergic receptors, thereby reducing hallucinations and delusions in conditions like schizophrenia. However, they can trigger unwanted extrapyramidal effects such as dystonias, Parkinson-like symptoms, and tardive dyskinesia.
Despite these side effects, antipsychotics are used therapeutically for various purposes, including managing schizophrenia, preventing nausea and vomiting, curbing...
Despite these side effects, antipsychotics are used therapeutically for various purposes, including managing schizophrenia, preventing nausea and vomiting, curbing...
1.2K
01:24Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
1.4K
Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's Disease (PD), involve the gradual and irreversible destruction of neurons in particular brain areas. These disorders exhibit standard features like proteinopathies, selective vulnerability of some neurons, and an interaction of intrinsic properties, genetics, and environmental influences in neural injury.
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of...
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of...
1.4K