A placebo-controlled trial of trihexyphenidyl in unmedicated patients with schizophrenia

Am J Psychiatry. 1994 Mar;151(3):429-31. doi: 10.1176/ajp.151.3.429.

Abstract

Seventeen patients with schizophrenia who had been free of medication for at least 2 months entered a placebo-controlled, random-order crossover trial of 5 mg of trihexyphenidyl twice daily for 4 weeks. Ten patients completed trials of both drug and placebo. Ratings of anticholinergic symptoms and of feeling the effects of the drug, controlled for order effects, were significantly higher at week 4 of the trihexyphenidyl trial than at week 4 of the placebo trial. Measures of psychosis, negative symptoms, depression, and liking the drug did not differ between trihexyphenidyl and placebo trials.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attitude to Health
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Placebos
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Schizophrenia / drug therapy*
  • Schizophrenic Psychology
  • Trihexyphenidyl / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Placebos
  • Trihexyphenidyl