[Treatment of paranoid schizophrenia taking circadian biological rhythms into account].

Patients with paranoid schizophrenia display fully or partially unstable circadian rhythms. A comparison of three regimens of haloperidol administration shows that the generally accepted therapeutic mode with this drug (thrice daily) should be modified. A once a day administration scheme proves to be more effective. Patients with a partial instability of the circadian rhythms should be given the drug in the morning and those with complete instability in the evening since this regimen employing a lower daily dose of this neuroleptic and associated with fewer side effects ensures more pronounced and prolonged remissions occurring at a faster rate.