Seventeen older patients with a diagnosis of Organic Brain Syndrome were placed on a four-week trial of melperone for treatment of behavioural disturbances associated with dementia. Efficacy evaluation of the drug revealed improved ratings of the patients in the areas of agitation/irritability, anxiety, unsociability, and mental alertness. Thirteen of the fourteen patients who completed the trial were rated generally as showing at least minimal improvement while on the drug. There were no serious side effects noted, with drowsiness the most frequent finding. These favourable results are suggestive of the usefulness of this drug, and point to the need for double-blind, comparative studies.
References
1.
WangH.S.Dementia in old age. In: SmithW.L., KinsbourneM. eds. Aging and dementia.New York: Spectrum, 1977.
2.
HuttonI.T.Clinical nosology of the dementing illness. In: MalettaG.J., and PirozzoloF.J., eds. Advances in neurogerontology: the aging nervous system.New York: Praeger, 1980.
3.
RopperA.H.A rational approach to dementia.Can Med Assoc J1979; 121: 1175–87.
4.
BanR.Psychopharmacology for the aged.Basel: S. Karger AG, 1980.
5.
YesavageJ., HollisterL.The treatment of senile dementia.Rational Drug Therapy1978; 12(8): 1–6.
6.
Investigational brochure, RMI 10, 608A (melperone), Merrell Research Centre, 1980.
7.
Beck-NielsonJ., ClausenJ.Methylperone and promazine as sedatives for confused elderly patients.Nord Med1970; 83: 659–61.
8.
EngstrandE.Buronil and promazine treatment of senile dementia. A double-blind investigation.Nord Psykiatr Tidsskr1967; 21: 234–40.
9.
HarnrydC., BjerkenstedtL., LindholmH., LjungbergL.A controlled clinical trial with Buronil and haloperidol in confusional states in elderly patients.Nord Psykiatr Tidsskr1974; 28: 469–72.
10.
NorgardA., TingsgaardP., NielsenI.L.Buronil in senile confusion and restlessness: a double-blind study.Nord Psykiatr Tiddskr1967; 21: 250–4.
11.
SimmelsgaardH., MellergaardM., VangtorpA.(Buronil FG 511) — A new butyrophenone derivative. A controlled clinical evaluation in the treatment of senile psychosis and confusion.Nord Med1967; 77: 210–3.
12.
ViskumP.Methylperone (Buronil) in anxiety states in the elderly.Nord Med1970; 94: 1298–9.
13.
BjerkenstedtL., ColdberB., HarnrydC., SedvallG.Monoamine metabolite levels in cerebrospinal fluid of psychotic women treated with melperone or thiothixene.Arch Psychiatr Nervenkr1979; 224: 107–18.
14.
BjerkenstedtL., EnerothT., HarnrydC., SedvallG.Effects of melperone and thiothixene on prolactin levels in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma of psychotic women.Arch Psychiatr Nervenkr1977; 224: 281–93.
15.
DahlS.G., StranjordR.E.Pharmocokinetics of chlorpromazine after single and chronic dosage.Clin Pharmacol Ther1977; 21: 437–88.
16.
PfeifferE.A short portable mental status questionnaire for the assessment of organic brain deficits in elderly patients.J Am Geriatr Soc1975; 23: 433–41.
17.
ShaderR.I., HarmatzJ.S., SalzmanC.A new scale for clinical assessment in a geriatric population — Sandoz clinical assessment geriatric (SCAG) scale.J Am Geriatr Soc1974; 22: 107–13.
18.
GuyW., ed. ECDEU Assessment manual for psychopharmacology.National Institute of Mental Health, 1976.
