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Effects of Biperiden and Amantadine on Memory in Medicated Chronic Schizophrenic Patients

A Double-blind Cross-over Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

H. Silver*
Affiliation:
Flugelman (Mazra) Psychiatric Hospital, Israel
N. Geraisy
Affiliation:
Flugelman (Mazra) Psychiatric Hospital, Israel
*
Dr H. Silver, Flugelman (Mazra) Psychiatric Hospital, Doar Na Ashrat, Israel

Abstract

Background

The effects on memory of an anticholinergic (biperiden) and a dopaminergic (amantadine) anti-Parkinsonian agent were compared.

Method

Twenty-six chronically medicated schizophrenic (DSM–III–R) in-patients received amantadine (200 mg/day) or biperiden (4 mg/day) for two weeks in a double-blind cross-over design.

Results

Biperiden treatment was associated with significantly lower scores on Benton Visual Retention Test (P < 0.003) and the visual subscale of Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) (P ≤ 0.02), with a trend to poorer scores on WMS total (P = 0.086) and the digit span (P = 0.07) and logical memory (P = 0.06) subscales.

Conclusions

In usual clinical doses, biperiden interferes with memory, particularly visual, more than amantadine.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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