Abstract
A double‐blind withdrawal trial in 41 chronic schizophrenic outpatients on neuroleptics was carried out during 6 months. Long‐acting neuroleptics (fluphenazine decanoate or flupenthixol decanoate) were used in comparison with placebo to determine the value in maintenance therapy. Most patients had a rather low maintenance dose, about 12.5‐25 mg fluphenazine decanoate or 20–40 mg flupenthixol decanoate every third week.Relapse was often characterized by a return of the same symptoms as the patient had during his first schizophrenic attack. Drugs were significantly more effective than placebo in preventing relapse and readmission to hospital. 62 % relapsed in the placebo groups as compared with 27 % in the drug group.All patients on active substance and without relapse during the controlled study had their treatment discontinued for 24 months in an open follow‐up investigation. This resulted in relapse of all patients but one, i.e. a final relapse frequency of 97 %.A significant weight decrease was observed in the placebo group. The risk of withdrawal is discussed.