The schedule for the assessment of drug-induced movement disorders (SADIMoD): inter-rater reliability and construct validity.

The Schedule for the Assessment of Drug-Induced Movement Disorders (SADIMoD) is a newly developed instrument, consisting of a compilation of rating scales, to measure the severity of drug-induced movement disorders: dystonia, dyskinesia, Parkinsonism, akathisia, ataxia, and several types of tremors. The inter-rater reliability and the construct validity of this scale were investigated. Six investigator teams were trained by means of a standard package of instruction material to such an extent that a single member of the team could represent the entire team.

The Schedule for the Assessment of Drug-Induced Movement Disorders (SADIMoD): test-retest reliability and concurrent validity.

The SADIMoD is a newly developed instrument, consisting of a compilation of rating scales, to measure the severity of drug-induced movement disorders: dystonia, dyskinesia, Parkinsonism, akathisia, ataxia, and several types of tremors. The test-retest reliability of this scale and the concurrent validity with the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS), the Simpson-Angus Scale (SEE) and the Barnes Akathisia Scale (BAS) was assessed in 31 patients [20 male/11 female; 57.1+/-16.

Lack of drug interactions between mirtazapine and risperidone in psychiatric patients: a pilot study.

An open-label, non-randomized, pilot study has been performed in inpatients in need of treatment with an antipsychotic (risperidone) and an antidepressant (mirtazapine) with the objective to preliminarily assess a possible pharmacokinetic interaction and the tolerability of this combination. A 1-4-week single drug treatment phase (risperidone 1-3 mg bid or mirtazapine 30 mg nocte) was followed by a 2-4-week combined drug treatment phase at unchanged doses. Twelve patients were enrolled, nine of whom were treated with risperidone in the single drug phase.

A comparison of carbamazepine Divitabs and a normal carbamazepine preparation in psychiatric and oligophrenic patients.

Twenty patients who had become accustomed to a stable oral carbamazepine dose participated in an open, randomized, two-centre, cross-over study, in which ordinary tablets and Divitabs (a new sustained release preparation) were compared. Pharmacokinetic parameters, seizure control, effects on the behavioral state, and tolerability were considered. A smaller Area Under the Curve (AUC) during the Divitabs period was the only pharmacokinetic parameter with a significant difference (p less than 0.

Is diltiazem effective in treating the symptoms of (tardive) dyskinesia in chronic psychiatric inpatients? A negative, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Calcium channel blockers, antiarrhythmic drugs, such as verapamil and diltiazem, may decrease the symptoms of tardive dyskinesia. The efficacy and safety of administering 60 mg diltiazem hydrochloride, four times daily for a period of 3 weeks, was studied in a random, double-blind, crossover trial in which the drug was compared with placebo in 17 neuroleptic-treated, chronic psychiatric inpatients of both genders with (tardive) dyskinesia. The severity of the dyskinesia was assessed using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale.