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Neurological consequences of psychotropic drug withdrawal in schizophrenic children

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Abstract

A preliminary study is presented, involving 34 schizophrenic children, 6 to 12 years of age, who were carefully observed following discontinuation of active neuroleptic treatment to ascertain the clinical effects of drug withdrawal. The children had been on maintenance therapy for periods of 6 to 15 months. Five neuroleptics were involved: fluphenazine, haloperidol, thioridazine, trifluoperazine, and thiothixene. All but two children suffered massive clinical relapse within 1 to 2 weeks after drug withdrawal. Fourteen of the children exhibited neurological withdrawal emergent symptoms (WES) characterized by involuntary movements and ataxia. In half the children the WES remitted spontaneously. In the remainder, symptoms disappeared within two weeks of resumption of active treatment with another neuroleptic. The findings are discussed in relation to the syndrome of tardive dyskinesia observed in adult schizophrenics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychopharmacology Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson Avenue, 11203, Brooklyn, New York

    Polizoes Polizos,  David M. Engelhardt, Stanley P. Hoffman & Jonas Waizer

Authors
  1. Polizoes Polizos
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  2. David M. Engelhardt
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  3. Stanley P. Hoffman
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  4. Jonas Waizer
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Additional information

This study was supported in part by Grant MH 18180 from The National Institute of Mental Health, United States Public Health Service.

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Polizos, P., Engelhardt, D.M., Hoffman, S.P. et al. Neurological consequences of psychotropic drug withdrawal in schizophrenic children. J Autism Dev Disord 3, 247–253 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01538282

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01538282

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