Rapid treatment of acute psychosis

Twenty-four patients with acute functional psychoses were treated with intramuscular haloperidol in a three-hour period. There was almost complete remission of cardinal symptoms (thought disorder, hallucinations, and delusional activity) in this period for 11 patients. Acute dystonia, easily reversed, was the only significant side effect. The authors therefore suggest that outpatient management may be feasible and preferable in the treatment of some acute psychotic episodes.