Patterns of Neuroleptic Usage in Continuously Hospitalized Chronic Schizophrenic Patients: Evidence for Development of Drug Tolerance

Abstract

A retrospective review of neuroleptic dosages over a five-year period in 19 chronic schizophrenic patients revealed that the majority (85 percent) had either consistent yearly increases or decreases in dosage, although clinical status remained unchanged. The authors present differences in adverse effects between the two groups and discuss the implications of their findings for the concepts of neuroleptic drug tolerance and supersensitivity psychosis.