Butaclamol in the treatment of schizophrenia. A standard-controlled clinical trial.

A 16-week, standard-controlled, double-blind study was conducted to compare the efficacy of butaclamol with that of fluphenazine in the treatment of 24 newly admitted schizophrenic patients. Statistically significant improvement occurred in the entire population in the total scores of the BPRS and PAS; in the activation, anergia, thought disturbance and hostile/suspiciousness factor scores of the BPRS; and in the scores of 9 of the 12 factors of the PAS. There were no statistically significant differences between the scores of the two treatment groups on the total or factor scores of either scale during the course of the clinical trial. The most frequently occurring adverse effects in the butaclamol group were rigidity, akathisia and excitement/agitation. The most frequently occurring adverse effects in the fluphenazine group were insomnia, decreased motor activity and tremor. It is concluded that butaclamol exerts potent neuroleptic effects on schizophrenic patients.