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Propranolol in Schizophrenia: A Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial of Propranolol as an Adjunct to Neuroleptic Medication

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

C. R. Pugh ,
J. Steinert  and
R. G. Priest
C. R. Pugh
Affiliation:
Shenley Hospital, Radlett, Hertfordshire
J. Steinert
Affiliation:
St Bernard's Hospital, Uxbridge Road, Southall, Middlesex, UB1 3EU
R. G. Priest
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Psychiatry, St Mary's Hospital, Harrow Road, London, W9 3RL
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Summary

A double blind, placebo controlled trial was carried out to examine the contribution of propranolol as an adjunct to neuroleptic medication in the treatment of chronic schizophrenic patients whose florid symptoms had not remitted with neuroleptic medication alone. Propranolol was shown to have a more beneficial effect than placebo, but the results were much less dramatic than those which have been described in previous studies. Recent work has shown that there may be a pharmacokinetic interaction between propranolol and neuroleptics, and this should be considered as one possible explanation of our findings.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 143 , Issue 2 , August 1983 , pp. 151 - 155
Copyright
Copyright © 1983 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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