INTERMITTENT CHEMOTHERAPY FOR CHRONIC PSYCHIATRIC INPATIENTS

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Abstract
To evaluate intermittent chemotherapy, 90 chronic psychotic inpatients on major tranquilizing drugs and not physically ill were consecutively assigned to one of three groups. Two experimental groups underwent monthly intermittent phenothiazine therapy while a control group was treated routinely for six months. One experimental group alternated active drug with nothing, the other alternated active drug with placebo. Ward behavior and clinical observation ratings were obtained at the time of group assignment and monthly thereafter. Monthly intermittent chemotherapy was successful for 71% when placebo was employed during the no-drug period, but for only 15% if it was not; 92% would have received the drugs continuously has research not intervened. Significant changes in behavior did occur in the intermittent group, some positive and some negative; none, however, was consistent over repeated withdrawals. An attempt to locate predictors of behavioral disturbance associated with removal from drugs was reasonably rewarding, since there was evidence that the presence of dysphoria while drugs were being administered would contraindicate placement on an intermittent program without placebo. Finally, we could not establish consistent individual patterns of time tolerance to the no-drug state in those unable to tolerate a 30-day withdrawal of drugs.

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