Pimozide in the treatment of some "social maladjustments" in "personality disorders"

Forty patients with some "social maladjustments" or disturbed interpersonal relationship under 2 mg pimozide (Orap: a 24 h long-acting neuroleptic) for six to twelve months. Concomitant but complementary medication was kept unchanged. Control was based on: long-term investigation (1/2 - 1 year), quantification, use of two scales. Statistical evaluation of the changes in "cardinal symptoms" showed a significant improvement in tension, disorders of sleep, intellectual disturbances, cardiovascular symptoms and gastrointestinal complaints. More detailed analysis of the other 27-item rating scale revealed a dramatic improvement in anxiety and paranoidism. The overall appreciation shows that: 25 patients responded well or very well to pimozide, eight did moderately, seven poorly. Neurasthenia and related states with predominant asthenia turned out to be no indication for pimozide treatment. Except for some cases of increased fatigue, tolerance was exceptionally good. The trial showed that extra patience is required from the therapist as a clinical onset of one to two months is not uncommon.