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Anticholinergic Challenge and Neuroleptic WithdrawalChanges in Dyskinesia and Symptom Measures
George Gardos, MD;
Jonathan O. Cole, MD;
Robert M. Rapkin, MD;
Richard A. LaBrie, PhD;
Eleanor Baquelod, RN;
Patricia Moore, RN, MPH;
Robert Sovner, MD;
John Doyle, RN
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1984;41(11):1030-1035.
Abstract
• Benztropine mesylate (intravenous [IV] and oral) challenge was compared with brief neuroleptic withdrawal on dyskinesia ratings and symptom measures. Thirty-six neuroleptic-treated patients underwent a placebo-controlled acute IV challenge with 2 mg benztropine and a placebocontrolled two-week trial of oral benztropine mesylate (2 mg three times a day), followed by a double-blind placebo-controlled neuroleptic withdrawal involving four weeks of dose tapering and six weeks of placebo treatment. Benztropine given IV had no significant effect. Orally administered benztropine, however, led to statistically significant increases in dyskinesia and dysphoric mood. The brief neuroleptic withdrawal significantly increased dyskinesia scores and dysphoria and resulted in early termination of therapy in 12 of 36 patients (33%) due to symptom exacerbation. There was a striking absence of correlation between dyskinesia change measures brought about by benztropine and changes following neuroleptic withdrawal. Therefore anticholinergic challenge does not appear to be a fruitful procedure for identifying patients with covert dyskinesia.
Author Affiliations
From the West-Ros-Park Mental Health Center, Hyde Park, Mass (Dr Gardos); McLean Hospital, Belmont, Mass (Dr Cole); LaBrie Associates, Cambridge, Mass (Dr LaBrie), the Dorchester Mental Health Center, Boston (Ms Baquelod); the Boston Mental Health Foundation, Brookline, Mass (Ms Moore); DIMES Inc, Watertown, Mass (Dr Sovner); and Lawrence and Memorial Hospital, New London, Conn (Mr Doyle). Dr Rapkin is in private practice in Guildford, Conn.
Footnotes
Accepted for publication Feb 23, 1984.
Reprint requests to Psychopharmacology Services, SB-III, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill St, Belmont, MA 02178 (Dr Gardos).
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