Cis(Z)-clopenthixol and haloperidol in chronic schizophrenic patients--a double-blind clinical multicentre investigation.

Sixty-three chronic schizophrenic in-patients were included in the double-blind, double-dummy clinical trial comparing antipsychotic activity and side effects of cis(Z)-clopenthixol and haloperidol. Test treatment was administered at least 8 and in most cases 12 weeks with clinical evaluations including BPRS, NOSIE-30, CGI and single side effects done at weeks 0, 2, 4, 8, and 12. The average end-of-trial doses were 40 mg cis(Z)-clopenthixol and 10 mg haloperidol. Statistically significant improvements of total BPRS-score and Thinking disturbance were registered with both drugs from week 2 onwards. At week 12 when 36 patients were receiving test treatment total BPRS-score was reduced by 31% in the cis(Z)-clopenthixol group and by 17% in the haloperidol group. At week 4 Thinking disturbance was reduced by 32% in the cis(Z)-clopenthixol group and by 16% in the haloperidol group--these findings constituted the only significant difference between test drugs. Compared to the BPRS-results less improvements and no differences between test drugs were registered with NOSIE-30 and CGI. Any trends towards different frequency and severity of side effects were in the favour of cis(Z)-clopenthixol.