Melperone in the treatment of schizophrenia

Eighty-one women with psychosis of schizophrenic or paranoid type participated in a double-blind comparison of melperone (300 mg daily) and thiothixene (30 mg daily). The purpose of the study was to analyse clinical and biochemical effects of the drugs. Both treatments were associated with significant reductions in psychotic morbidity. No significant difference in the clinical ratings was found between the drugs. However, there were more extrapyramidal side effects in the thiothixene as compared to the melperone group. Biochemically, the dopaminergic variables HVA in CSF and prolactin in plasma and CSF showed significantly greater elevations in the thiothixene group.