The relationship between perphenazine plasma levels and clinical response in acute schizophrenia

1. Twelve patients with schizophrenia according to RDC participated in a double-blind study, comparing two dose levels of perphenazine, 16 or 32 mg, during four weeks. 2. The patients were assessed with a subscale to CPRS and global scores, measuring improvement of regular intervals during four weeks. 3. Blood samples for assay of plasma perphenazine were collected once a week. 4. These results are in many respects in accordance with earlier published data with perphenazine, that is a good clinical response is achieved with a plasma concentration of perphenazine between 1-5 nmol/L. 5. No incidence of severe adverse symptoms were observed.