Correlates of early neuroleptic response using a uniform haloperidol dose

Twenty-one patients hospitalized for acute non-organic psychosis were treated with a fixed daily dose of haloperidol (0.2 mg/kg) for 10 days. Serum levels of haloperidol were significantly lower in the male patients at steady state as compared to females. Serum levels at 24 h and 48 h were highly correlated steady-state levels. Haloperidol levels at steady state were significantly correlated with global outcome at 10 days. Prolactin at haloperidol steady state was significantly related to global outcome at 10 days in the males. Pretreatment plasma free HVA but not MHPG was significantly related to outcome in males and females.