Comparison of Chlorpromazine, Haloperidol and Pimozide in the Treatment of Phencyclidine Psychosis: Da-2 Receptor Specificity

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Abstract
Three neuroleptics were used to treat phencyclidine (PCP) psychosis. These included chlorpromazine, a DA-1 and DA-2 dopamine antagonist with noradrenergic effects; haloperidol, a predominantly DA-2 antagonist with noradrenergic effects; and pimozide, a predominantly DA-2-antagonist with no noradrenergic activity. Three cohorts of randomly selected young white [human] adult males were studied. Responses to haloperidol and pimozide were statistically equivalent and both were significantly superior to chlorpromazine. These results further support the role of the DA-2 receptor in PCP psychosis and tend to rule out a noradrenergic role. DA-2 blockers, such as haloperidol or pimozide, should be employed as treatment of choice in PCP psychosis.