Benzodiazepines in the treatment of schizophrenia: a review and reappraisal.

摘要: Objective Benzodiazepines, either alone or added to neuroleptics, have been studied extensively as treatments for schizophrenia, but no consensus regarding their efficacy has reached. The authors review the double-blind trials in literature and relate findings neurobiology of benzodiazepine actions. Method clinical included all studies through 1989 that could be identified by means Index Medicus computer-assisted searches cross-referencing articles. from 14 benzodiazepines used 16 adjunctive therapy are presented separately. Results reviewed suggest 1) response is highly variable, about one-third one-half patients improve; 2) potentially most useful adjuncts neuroleptics acute management psychotic agitation, although actual antipsychotic effects also observed some patients; 3) relatively higher doses may associated with better response; 4) therapeutic effects, when seen, develop rapidly diminish after several weeks patients. explore neurobiological bases action, which presumably underlie schizophrenia help explain variability response. Conclusions Future research on treatment should focus features predict response, relation dopamine other neurotransmitter systems schizophrenic symptoms amenable treatment, changes neuroleptic dose during augmentation, role maintenance therapy, optimal characteristics treatment.