Comparison of sensorimotor and cognitive performance of acute schizophrenic inpatients treated with remoxipride or...

29 acute schizophrenic patients according to DSM III and ICD-9 underwent examination of performance regarding cognitive and sensorimotor tasks at the beginning and the end of a 28-day neuroleptic treatment with remoxipride or haloperidol in a double-blind design. Psychopathological symptoms were assessed by Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and Clinical Global Impression, extrapyramidal side effects (ESE) were rated by Simpson-Angus scale. A significant treatment effect for acoustic reaction time tasks, naming of colored stripes and interference could be demonstrated, whereas tapping revealed a significant effect of duration of treatment. Interaction effects regarding time of faults in line tracing, visual sensorimotor reaction time task and interference factor (Stroop test) could be observed. ESE and impairment of performance occurred simultaneously and ESE vanished with clinical improvement. Performance deficits were more pronounced in patients assigned to remoxipride treatment. Possible differential effects on performance under neuroleptic drug treatment will be discussed.