Dimensionality, responsiveness and standardization of the Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Scale in the ultra-short therapy with antipsychotics in patients with severe manic episodes.

Objective: Typical antipsychotics have their indication in the ultra-short (first week) treatment of severe episodes of mania. In this setting the Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Scale (MAS) was psychometrically compared with the Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI) to assess its ability to measure response.

Method: Ratings on patients with marked to severe mania (n = 80) who participated in the clinical trials to evaluate the ultra-short antimanic effect of zuclopenthixol acetate were assessed.

A controlled Nordic multicentre study of zuclopenthixol acetate in oil solution, haloperidol and zuclopenthixol in the treatment of acute psychosis.

Zuclopenthixol acetate--a new injectable formulation with a duration of action of 2-3 days--was compared with conventional intramuscular and oral formulations of haloperidol and zuclopenthixol in the initial treatment of acutely disturbed, psychotic patients. The patients were stratified into 3 diagnostic categories: acute psychoses (48 patients), mania (22 patients), and exacerbation of chronic psychoses (73 patients). The patients were rated on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Rating Scale (BRMAS) (only manic patients) and globally on the Clinical Global Impression (CGI).

Thyroid function and ultrasonically determined thyroid size in patients receiving long-term lithium treatment.

Thyroid function was investigated in 100 manic-depressive patients. Goiter was more common in patients treated with lithium for 1-5 years (44%) or more than 10 years (50%) than in patients who never received lithium (16%). Smoking contributed significantly to thyroid size and goiter.

Psychotropic medication in the elderly. A survey of prescribing and clinical outcome.

Due to the increasing elderly population, an increased number of elderly patients requires treatment for mental and behavioural disorders. There are relatively few clinical studies of the prescribing of psychotropic drugs in patients over 65 years of age. A prospective study was undertaken at three centres caring for the elderly, encompassing patients from general nursing homes and a psychiatric department.

Zuclopenthixol acetate in Viscoleo--a new drug formulation. An open Nordic multicentre study of zuclopenthixol acetate in Viscoleo in patients with acute psychoses including mania and exacerbation of chronic psychoses.

Eighty-three acutely disturbed, psychotic patients were included in an open multicentre study. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical effect of zuclopenthixol acetate in Viscoleo (CPT-A). Each patient received from one to four intramuscular injections of CPT-A during the 6-day study period.