A Double-Blind Trial to Investigate the Effects of Thorazine (Largactil, Chlorpromazine), Compazine (Stemetil, Prochlorperazine) and Stelazine (Trifluoperazine) in Paranoid Schizophrenia

Abstract

In the early phenothiazine literature the ataractic properties of Thorazine in the control of disturbed, hyperactive schizophrenics were described (Kurland, 1955; Hall and Dunlap, 1955; Lehmann, 1955). Kurland (1955) gives an excellent description of the powerful activity of Thorazine in this sphere, namely the control of hyperkinesis and hostile, aggressive behaviour; however, he found that there was little basic change in delusional thought disorder other than to divorce the abnormal thinking from its affective attachment. It was noted that the clinical improvement was most dramatic when the affective component of the illness was most marked. Hall and Dunlap (1955) felt that there was significant reduction in delusional ideation but noted that the schizophrenic process was not affected by Thorazine medication.