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Orthostatic challenge during neuroleptic test dose: a possible predictor of short-term outcome
H P Volz1, A Mackert, A Diefenbacher
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Germany.
Neuropsychobiology
|January 1, 1994
Abstract:
Cardiovascular measurements were used as indicators of autonomic arousal during an orthostatic challenge test without medication and after a test dose of 150 mg perazine in 20 acute schizophrenic patients. Unmedicated schizophrenics showed elevated heart rates and elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure in comparison to healthy volunteers. After a test dose of 150 mg perazine, responders (using BPRS outcome criteria after 23 days) showed a pronounced orthostatic heart rate reaction in comparison to nonresponders. Results are discussed in relation to arousal theories and central dopaminergic activity in schizophrenia.