Precautionary measures reduce risk of definite neuroleptic malignant syndrome in newly typical neuroleptic-treated schizophrenia inpatients.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a potentially lethal antipsychotic drug (APD)-induced thermoregulatory disturbance. We hypothesized that several precautionary measures taken after administeration of APDs might prevent progression to definite NMS. The study group included 657 consecutively admitted drug-free schizophrenia inpatients who received various typical APDs for 28 days.

Association between severity of schizophrenic symptoms and urinary retention.

A case is presented in which severe urinary retention (UR) occurred during an acute psychotic exacerbation of paranoid schizophrenia. The voiding dysfunction was apparent during continuous treatment with unchanged doses of haloperidol, and it completely resolved with the remission of the psychotic symptoms. A clear temporal correlation was evident between the patient's mental status, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) score and the degree of the UR as assessed by quantitatively measuring the total daily post-voiding urine residues.

Abnormal thermoregulation in drug-free male schizophrenia patients.

Schizophrenia patients may develop various thermoregulatory disturbances. We hypothesized that a standardized exercise-heat tolerance test [two 50-min bouts of walking a motor-driven treadmill at 40 degrees C (relative humidity=40%)] would reveal abnormal thermoregulation in drug-free schizophrenia patients. Six drug-free schizophrenia outpatients and seven healthy comparison subjects participated in this study.

[Antidepressive effect of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) in neuroleptic-treated schizophrenic patients with co-morbid minor depression--preliminary open-label trial].

Background: Minor depression is reported in 20-60% of schizophrenic patients during various stages of their disorders; impairing patients' compliance, response to treatment and worsening their overall prognosis. Various anti-depressive treatments have been proposed for such cases but response rates are usually poor. Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) in essential for the proper metabolism of various neurotransmitters that are considered relevant to the pathophysiology of depression and/or schizophrenia and it has been reported beneficial in ameliorating depressive symptoms as part of major depression, premenstrual syndrome or 'Chinese restaurant syndrome'.