Clopenthixol decanoate and perphenazine enanthate in schizophrenic patients. A double-blind Nordic multicentre trial

The clinical properties of clopenthixol decanoate has been investigated versus perphenazine enanthate in a double-blind clinical multicentre trial including 14 psychiatric hospitals in Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Test treatment was initiated in 172 chronic schizophrenic patients and the planned 6 months test period was completed by 57 patients receiving clopenthixol decanoate and 48 receiving perphenazine enanthate. The therapeutic effect was assessed by means of CGI, BPRS, and NOSIE-30 and was found significant with both test drugs. Significant differences in the effect were seen only in "Hostile-suspiciousness" (BPRS) and "Social interest" (NOSIE-30). For these items clopenthixol decanoate was found superior to perphenazine enanthate. The influence of side effects on the patients' functioning was found to be slightly, but not significantly more troublesome in the perphenazine enanthate patients.