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Related Experiment Videos

Pimozide-induced depression in men who stutter

M Bloch1, S Stager, A Braun

  • 1Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Md. 20892-1276, USA.

The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
|December 31, 1997
PubMed
Summary

The neuroleptic drug pimozide caused significant depression in psychiatrically healthy men who stutter. These mood changes occurred independently of drug dosage or neurological side effects, highlighting potential risks of neuroleptics in non-psychiatric populations.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychopharmacology
  • Neuroscience
  • Clinical Psychiatry

Background:

  • Neuroleptic medications are known to cause dysphoria, particularly in patients with psychiatric disorders and extrapyramidal side effects.
  • Limited controlled data exist on the mood effects of neuroleptics in individuals without pre-existing psychiatric conditions.
  • This study investigated the potential depressogenic effects of pimozide in psychiatrically healthy males.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the depressogenic effect of the neuroleptic drug pimozide.
  • To assess the impact of pimozide on mood in psychiatrically normal subjects.
  • To determine if pimozide treatment induces depressive symptoms in individuals without psychiatric diagnoses.

Main Methods:

  • A double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted over six weeks.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Eight men with developmental stuttering and no psychiatric history participated.
  • The study assessed speech fluency and mood changes during pimozide treatment.

    • Main Results:

    • Four out of seven compliant subjects developed significant depressive symptoms.
    • Depressive reactions were not clearly linked to pimozide dose, blood levels, or neurological side effects.
    • Symptoms resolved shortly after discontinuing the drug.

    Conclusions:

    • Pimozide treatment induced notable depressive symptoms in psychiatrically normal men experiencing stuttering.
    • Neuroleptic drugs may play a causal role in inducing depression in individuals without psychiatric disorders.
    • The induction of depression appears independent of drug dosage or the severity of neurological side effects.