[Social integration of long-term paraphrenic patients with low-dose depot neuroleptic medication]

All long-term patients with the diagnosis "paraphrenia systematica" out of one region were included in this study. 53 patients were treated in an in-patient psychiatric unit between 1979 and 1981 and were available in this study. Parenteral Fluphenacin-Decanoate (25-75 mg monthly) was given. Before, during and after Fluphenacin (each schedule lasting for at least 20 weeks) psychopathological and social evaluations were done. We used quantitative scales: NGI (Nurses Global Impressions) and BPRS (Brief psychiatric Rating Scale). Good Socialization showed a striking correlation to parenteral Fluphenacin-treatment. Differences in the present state psychopathology were not able to explain the social difference. During parenteral treatment 49 patients switched from badly socialized (NGI: more than 12 points) to well socialized (NGI less than 7 points). 18 patients stopped parenteral neuroleptic treatment for various reasons. 13 Patients out of this group had to be readmitted to the psychiatric hospital, while those staying on their parenteral neuroleptic drug-treatment stayed well socialized.