Zuclopenthixol decanoate in the management of behavioural disorders in mentally handicapped patients

One hundred and sixteen mentally handicapped patients with behavioural disorders were studied in a double-blind clinical comparison of zuclopenthixol decanoate injection (mean dosage 123 mg/week) and placebo. The study consisted of a 4-week open phase, in which all patients were treated with zuclopenthixol decanoate, followed by a 12-week double-blind phase where approximately half of the patients were changed to placebo. Patients were assessed every 2 weeks using the Clinical Global Impression, the Nurse's Observation Scale for In-patient Evaluation, a specific behaviour rating scale designed for this study and a side-effects check-list. Fourteen patients in the placebo group were withdrawn because of an increase in the frequency and severity of their behavioural disorders compared to only 4 in the zuclopenthixol decanoate group. Analyses of the rating scales of the patients remaining in the study also showed zuclopenthixol decanoate to be superior to placebo in the treatment of mentally handicapped patients with behavioural disorders. Side-effects in general were not a problem and did not affect treatment.