[Skip to Navigation]
Article
March 1982

Antipsychotic Effects of Pimozide in Schizophrenia: Treatment Response Prediction With Acute Dextroamphetamine Response

Author Affiliations

From the Section on Neuropsychopharmacology, Biological Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Bethesda, Md. Dr Docherty is now with the Psychosocial Research Branch, NIMH, Rockville, Md; Dr Marder is with the Veterans Administration Hospital/Brentwood, Los Angeles; and Dr Schulz is with the Medical College of Virginia, Richmond.

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1982;39(3):261-266. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1982.04290030011002
Abstract

• Acute behavioral response to 20 mg of dextroamphetamine (intravenous) predicted fourth-week antipsychotic response to double-blind pimozide treatment. Patients whose psychotic condition improved with dextroamphetamine administration showed more antipsychotic response to pimozide therapy than those whose condition worsened or did not change. Multiple regression analysis indicated amphetamine-induced response predicted pimozide response after four weeks but fifth-week pimozide response was more accurately predicted by prepimozide psychosis ratings. Our study provides some evidence that mechanisms underlying early and late pimozide response are not necessarily identical. Because patients who did not respond to dextroamphetamine administration still improved with pimozide therapy, our data do not support the concept that schizophrenia can be divided into two groups (dopamine-sensitive or dopamine-insensitive) but, rather, that dopamine responsiveness changes over time. Clinical application is not warranted until studies with larger samples have replicated our findings.

Add or change institution
×