Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-mp689 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-16T13:46:47.510Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Effect of Propranolol and Thioridazine on Positive and Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

D. Eccleston*
Affiliation:
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
A. F. Fairbairn
Affiliation:
St. Nicholas Hospital, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne
F. Hassanyeh
Affiliation:
Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne
H. A. McClelland
Affiliation:
St. Nicholas Hospital, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne
D. A. Stephens
Affiliation:
St. George's Hospital, Morpeth, Northumberland
*
Correspondence

Abstract

Patients with chronic schizophrenia were treated with either propranolol (640 mg daily) or thioridazine (400 mg daily). In a double-blind study lasting five weeks, propranolol was superior to thioridazine on both psychiatrists' and nurses' ratings. Significant improvements were noted with propranolol in both positive (Type I) and negative (Type II) symptoms.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ashcroft, G. W., Blackwood, G. W., Beeson, J. A. O., Palomo, T. & Waring, H. L. (1981) Positive and negative schizophrenic symptoms and the role of dopamine. British Journal of Psychiatry, 138, 268272.Google Scholar
Astrup, C. (1979) The Chronic Schizophrenias. Universitetsforlaget, Oslo, Norway.Google Scholar
Atsmon, A. & BLUM, I. (1970) Treatment of acute porphyria variegata with propranolol. Lancet, i, 196197.Google Scholar
Creese, I., Burt, D. R. & Snyder, S. H. (1975) Dopamine receptor binding: Differentiation of agonist and antagonist states with 3H dopamine and H3 haloperidol. Life Sciences, 17, 9931002.Google Scholar
Crow, T. J. (1980) Positive and negative schizophrenic symptoms and the role of dopamine. British Journal of Psychiatry, 137, 383386.Google Scholar
Davis, J. M. (1965) Efficacy of tranquillising and antidepressant drugs. Archives of General Psychiatry, 13, 552572.Google Scholar
Elizure, A., Segal, Z., Yeret, A., Davidson, S. & Ben-David, M. (1978) Anti-psychotic activity and mode of action of propranolol vs neuroleptic drugs. Israel Journal of Medical Science, 14(4), 493494.Google Scholar
Gaddum, J. H. (1953) Antagonism between lysergic acid diethylamide and 5-hydroxytryptamine. Journal of Physiology, 121, 115.Google Scholar
Green, A. R. & Grahame-Smith, D. G. (1976) Propranolol inhibts the behavioural responses of rats to increased 5-hydroxytryptamine in the central nerrvous system. Nature, 262, 594596.Google Scholar
Hanssen, T., Heyden, T., Sunberg, I., Alfredsson, G., Nyback, H. & Wetterberg, L. (1980) Propranolol in schizophrenia: Clinical, metabolic and pharmacological findings. Archives of General Psychiatry, 37, 685690.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Honigfeld, G., Gillis, R. D. & Kleet, C. J. (1966) NOSIE–30: A treatment-sensitive ward behaviour scale. Psychological Reports, 19, 180–2.Google Scholar
Hornykiewicz, O. (1978) Psychopharmacological implications of dopamine and dopamine antagonists: a critical evaluation of current evidence. Neuroscience, 3, 773783.Google Scholar
Huber, G. (1966) Reine Defektsyndrome und Basisstadien endogener Psychosen. Fortschr. Neurol. Psychiat., 34, 409421.Google Scholar
Johnstone, E. C., Crow, T. J., Frith, C. D., Carney, M. W. P. & Price, J. S. (1978) Mechanism of the antipsychotic effect in the treatment of acute schizophrenia. Lancet, i, 848851.Google Scholar
Kafka, M. S. & van Kammen, D. P. (1983) a-Adrenergic receptor function in schizophrenia. Archives of General Psychiatry, 40, 264270.Google Scholar
King, D. J., Turkson, S. N. A., Liddle, J. & Kinney, C. D. (1980) Some clinical and metabolic aspects of propranolol in chronic schizophrenia. British Journal of Psychiatry, 137, 458468.Google Scholar
Klawans, H. L. & Rubovts, R. (1974) Effect of cholinergic and anticholinergic agents in tardive dyskinesia. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 27, 941947.Google Scholar
Lake, C. R., Sternberg, D. E., van Kammen, D. P. et al (1980) Schizophrenia: elevated cerebrospinal fluid norepinephrine. Science, 207, 331333.Google Scholar
Letemendia, F. J. J. & Harris, A. D. (1967) Chlorpromazine and the untreated chronic schizophrenic: a long-term trial. British Journal of Psychiatry, 113, 950958.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lindstrom, L. H. & Persson, E. (1980) Propranolol in chronic schizophrenia: a controlled study in neuroleptic-treated patients. British Journal of Psychiatry, 137, 126130.Google Scholar
Middlemiss, D. N., Blakeborough, L. & Leather, S. R. (1977) Direct evidence for an interaction of B-adrenergic blockers with the 5-HT receptor. Nature, 267, 289290.Google Scholar
Myers, D. H., Campbell, P. L., Bocks, N. M., Flowerdew, J. A. & Muir, A. (1981) A trial of propranolol in chronic schizophrenia. British Journal of Psychiatry, 139, 118121.Google Scholar
Nahorski, S. R. (1976) Association of high affinity stereo specific binding of 3H-propranolol to cerebral membranes with B-adrenoreceptors. Nature, 259, 488489.Google Scholar
Odegard, O. (1967) Changes in the prognosis of functional psychoses since the days of Kraepelin. British Journal of Psychiatry, 113, 813822.Google Scholar
Overall, J. E. & Gorham, D. R. (1962) The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (B.P.R.S.). Psychological Reports, 10, 799812.Google Scholar
Peet, M., Bethel, M. S., Coates, A., Khamnee, A. K., Hall, P., Cooper, S. J., King, D. J. & Yates, R. A. (1981) Propranolol in schizophrenia. Comparison of propranolol, chlorpromazine and placebo. British Journal of Psychiatry, 139, 105–11.Google Scholar
Prien, R. F., Cole, S. O. & Belkin, N. F. (1969) Relapse in chronic schizophrenia following abrupt withdrawal of tranquillising medication. British Journal of Psychiatry, 115, 679–86.Google Scholar
Pugh, C. R., Steinert, J. & Priest, R. G. (1963) Propranolol in schizophrenia: a double blind, placebo controlled trial of propranolol as as adjunct to neuroleptic medication. British Journal of Psychiatry, 143, 151155.Google Scholar
Ridges, A. P., Lawton, K., Harper, P., GHOSH, C. & Hlndson, N. (1977) Propranolol in schizophrenia. Lancet, ii, 986.Google Scholar
Sheppard, G. P. (1979) High dose propranolol in schizophrenia. British Journal of Psychiatry, 134, 470–76.Google Scholar
Spitzer, R. L., Endicott, J. & Robins, E. (1977) Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) for a Selected Group of Functional Disorders. Biometrics Research, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York.Google Scholar
Stevens, B. C. (1973) Role of fluphenazine decanoate in lessening the burden of chronic schizophrenics on the community. Psychological Medicine, 3, 141–58.Google Scholar
Vaughn, C. E. & Leff, J. P. (1976) The influence of family and social factors on the course of psychiatric illness. A comparison of schizophrenic and depressed neurotic patients. British Journal of Psychiatry, 129, 125–37.Google Scholar
Yorkston, N. J., Gruzelier, J. H., Zaki, S. A., Hollander, D., Pitcher, D. R. & Sergeant, H. G. (1977) Propranolol as an adjunct to the treatment of schizophrenia. Lancet, ii, 575–78.Google Scholar
Yorkston, N. J., Zaki, S. A., Malik, M. K. U., Morrison, R. C. & Havard, C. W. H. (1974) Propranolol in the control of schizophrenic symptoms. British Medical Journal, 4, 633635.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.