Low dose neuroleptanxiolysis in anxiety states.

1. In order to prove that neuroleptanxiolysis represents a therapeutical alternative in the treatment of patients suffering from anxiety we conducted four investigations. 2. In the first study it was experimentally proved with 45 outpatients suffering from anxiety that fluspirilene (1.5 mg per week) is superior to bromazepam (6 mg/day), especially in patients with a high degree of somatic anxiety. 3. In the second study the tolerance of fluspirilene (1.5 mg per week) was investigated in 1261 patients with anxiety states and psychoreactive disorders under controlled and open conditions for a period of six weeks. Side effects were found in 11.5% of the patients. All side effects had in common that they occurred already within the first few weeks of treatment. 4. In the third study investigating the dose-effect relationship 106 patients received either 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 mg fluspirilene per week for a period of 6 weeks. The main result of this study was the verification of a clear dose-effect relationship. 5. The fourth study compared 155 patients who had received long-term treatment with fluspirilene (max 1.5 mg/week) and 121 patients with long-term benzodiazepine treatment. No differences were found with regard to the frequency and intensity of extra-pyramidal disturbances. 6. The therapeutical relevance of the findings was emphasized in the general discussion.