[Benzodiazepine monotherapy in acute schizophrenia]

Two patients with acute schizophrenic or schizo-affective psychosis were treated with benzodiazepine-monotherapy. In the first patient with paranoid-hallucinatory psychosis, catatonic symptoms disappeared completely after application of Lorazepam. Side effects of neuroleptic medication (neuroleptic turbulences) were the reason for benzodiazepine treatment in the second patient. In neither patients were psychotic symptoms observed during several weeks on benzodiazepine medication. Subsequently, no further neuroleptic treatment was necessary in one patient. Benzodiazepine effects on schizophrenia are probably caused by an activation of inhibitory GABA-ergic neurons. Besides stupor and catatonia, severe side effects of neuroleptic treatment or even contra-indications of neuroleptic medication may be an indication for benzodiazepine treatment in acute schizophrenia.