A double-blind trial to determine the effects of a single dose of 2 mg benzhexol on cognitive functioning was undertaken using normal volunteers. Ninety minutes after the drug or placebo was taken, subjects completed a battery of psychological tests designed to measure learning, memory and motor skills. Benzhexol ingestion was associated with significant impairment of short-term memory and slowing of the rate of new learning.
References
1.
BakerL. A.ChengL. Y.AmaraI. B. (1983), The withdrawal of benztropine mesylate in chronic schizophrenic patients, British Journal of Psychiatry143, 584–90
2.
CrawshawJ. A.MullenP. E. (1984), A study of benzhexol abuse, British Journal of Psychiatry145, 300–3
3.
DrachmanD. A. (1977), Memory and cognitive function in man: Does the cholinergic system have a specific role?Neurology27, 783–90
4.
DrachmanD. A.LeavittJ. (1974), Human memory and thecholinergic system, Archives of Neurology30, 113–21
5.
MillarK. (1983), Asymmetrical transfer: An inherent weakness of repeated-measure drug experiments, British Journal of Psychiatry143, 480–6
6.
NaylorG. F. K.HarwoodE. (1972), The Nayhr-Harwood Adult Intelligence Scale, Australian Council for Educational Research, Hawthorn
7.
OsterriethP. A. (1944), Le test de copie d'une figure complexe, Archives de Psychologie30, 206–356
8.
PotamianosG.KellettJ. M. (1982), Anticholinergic drugs and memory: the effects of benzhexol on memory in a group of geriatric patients, British Journal of Psychiatry140, 470–2
9.
ReitanR. M. (1958), Validity of the Trial Making Test as an indication of organic brain damage, Perceptual and Motor Skills8, 271–6
10.
ReyA. (1964), L'Examen Clinique en Psychologie, Presses Universitaires de France, Paris
11.
TaylorL. B. (1969), Localization of cerebral lesions by psychological testing, Clinical Neurosurgery16, 269–87
12.
TiffinJ. (1948), Purdue Peghoard Examiner Manual, Science Research Associates, Chicago
13.
WadeA. (ed.) (1977), Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopia, 27th edn.Pharmaceutical Press, London
14.
WechslerD. (1955), The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Psychological Corporation, New York
15.
WechslerD.StoneC. P. (1945), Wechsler Memory Scale Manual, Psychological Corporation, New York
