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Performance tests in a study of phenothiazines in schizophrenia: Caveats and conclusions

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Abstract

A battery of performance tests was administered to acutely ill schizophrenic patients prior to treatment and repeatedly during a 26-week course of treatment with one of three phenothiazines (acetophenazine, chlorpromazine or fluphenazine). Included were measures of simple reaction-time, cognitive stimulus generalization, sway suggestibility, definition of affectively toned words and subjective uncertainty. Each of these measures were chosen to reflect a specific aspect of schizophrenic deficit or dysfunction. Changes in performance over time and correlations with symptom rating scales of psychopathology presumably tapping the same schizophrenic dysfunctions were examined.

Most changes in performance occured between the initial and first repeated testing. Correlations with clinical ratings were seen primarily in symptoms of withdrawal and cognitive disturbance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychopharmacology Research Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, 20852, Rockville, Maryland, USA

    Nina R. Schooler & Solomon C. Goldberg

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  1. Nina R. Schooler
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  2. Solomon C. Goldberg
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Additional information

This study was supported by grants numbered MH 04661, 04663, 04667, 04673, 04674, 04675, 04679, 04803 and by contract No. SA-43-ph-3064 to National Institute of Mental Health. We thank Nils Mattsson, Senior Scientist Biometric Laboratory under whose direction the statistical analyses were conducted.

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Schooler, N.R., Goldberg, S.C. Performance tests in a study of phenothiazines in schizophrenia: Caveats and conclusions. Psychopharmacologia 24, 81–98 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402906

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