The short-term effects of chlorpromazine on psychiatric patients.

Abstract

A group of acutely disturbed female patients was tested before and after a week of chlorpromazine therapy, and the changes in test scores were compared with those of a control group which received only placebos. The combined groups showed small but significant changes in Ward Ratings, Bender-Gestalt test scores, and on the Pt, Pd, Sc, and K scales of the MMPI. In general, acutely disturbed patients tend to improve after a few days of hospitalization-and chlorpromazine speeds behavioral adjustment to ward routine, but it causes some disruption of coordination, especially during the so-called "turmoil phase" at the beginning of treatment. Evaluation of psychological tests involving visual-motor coordination, such as the Bender-Gestalt, should, therefore, take into account the effects of concurrent drug therapy.