Comparative Study of the Effectiveness of Zuclopenthixol Acetate and Haloperidol in Acutely Disturbed Psychotic Patients
UNCHULEE TAYMEEYAPRADIT, M.D.*, SURACHAI KUASIRIKUL, M.D.**
Affiliation : * Psychiatric Division, Songkla Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Songkhla 90000, ** Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
Objectives : To study the effectiveness, frequency of administration and side effects of zuclo penthixol acetate (ZPT A) and haloperidol (HAL) in the treatment of acute psychotic disturbance with aggression.
Method : Purposive sampling method was employed in a group of psychotic patients with aggression admitted to Songkla Neuropsychiatric Hospital, they were randomly divided into 2 groups: ZPT A group and HAL group. All of the patients were evaluated daily for 7 consecutive days using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI). Statistical analysis was performed by using the Student t-test and Linear regression.
Results : There were 70 patients with diagnosis of schizophrenia, mania and acute psy chosis. Thirty-eight patients were randomly assigned to the ZPTA group and were given 50-100 mg of the drug, while 32 patients received HAL 5-10 mg. The result showed a significant reduction in BPRS or CGI scores in both groups. Patients treated with ZPT A required less frequent administra tion than did those on HAL (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the reduc tion in scores between the two groups. Nor was there a statistical difference in reduction of aggression based on BPRS rating. Each group of patients showed a few side effects of mild degree.
Conclusion : Both ZPTA and HAL were effective in the treatment of acute psychosis with aggression, but frequency of administration was lower in the ZPT A group
Keywords : Effectiveness, Aggression, Acute Psychosis, Zuclopenthixol Acetate, Haloperidol
