Abstract
Fifty-six patients with chronic schizophrenia were maintained on clopenthixol for one year. Significant improvement was noted in 13 of the 18 BPRS items by the end of the study. There was also clinical improvement in approximately 71 per cent of the sample, with 27 per cent showing no change and 2 per cent slightly worse in comparison with their pre-medication condition. A number of side effects and abnormal laboratory results were noted during the first few months of the study, although these generally dropped to normal levels as the study continued. It would appear that clopenthixol is an active antipsychotic medication which maintains its activity over twelve months. One or two patients responded very well to this medication after having failed to react to other neuroleptics. Toxicity was not a problem although laboratory abnormalities were noted early in the study.