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Token Economy, Pimozide and Chronic Schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Robin G. McCreadie
Affiliation:
Gartnavel Royal Hospital, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 0XH
Christopher J. Main
Affiliation:
Gartnavel Royal Hospital, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 0XH
Rosalyn A. Dunlop
Affiliation:
Gartnavel Royal Hospital, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 0XH

Summary

Response to a token economy was assessed in male chronic schizophrenic in-patients who were given, in a double-blind cross-over trial, pimozide (up to 20 mg daily) or chlorpromazine (up to 1,000 mg daily), each for three months. After six months there was little change in the patients' mental state, but general ward behaviour and token-rewarded target behaviours improved significantly. There were no statistically significant between-drug differences, but the trend was that general ward behaviour, but not token-rewarded behaviour, improved more on pimozide. The patients who showed initiative and cooperated best with staff were those whose token-rewarded behaviour was most satisfactory.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1978 

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