[Psychotropic effects of a new beta noradrenergic receptor blocking agent, acebutolol, in psychotics (author's...

In a pilot, phase II open trial, 32 psychotics, aged between 19 and 54, whose illness was evolving from between 1 and 25 years, and was not improved with classic treatments, were given daily 200 to 1 400 mg of acebutolol orally, in three divided doses. Following global clinical evaluation and scores of BPRS, in 18 patients was observed a mild improvement, in 2 a clear one, in 2 others a clear improvement with partial social rehabilitation and in 2 a clear improvement with long lasting social rehabilitation, while 6 patients showed no improvement. Acebutolol could be considered as a mild or partial neuroleptic and its action as amphidromic or double.