Haloperidol. Plasma levels and prolactin response as predictors of clinical improvement in schizophrenia: chemical v radioreceptor plasma level assays

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1984 Nov;41(11):1044-9. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1983.01790220034006.

Abstract

The relationship between clinical response of schizophrenic patients to haloperidol and (1) blood levels of the medication, determined by both gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) and radioreceptor (RR) assays, or (2) prolactin response to the medication, was examined in an inpatient study using several fixed doses of haloperidol. Regression analysis disclosed a substantial curvilinear relationship between steady-state GLC-determined plasma haloperidol levels and decrease in Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) Psychosis factor scores; however, no substantial relationship was found between clinical response and RR plasma haloperidol levels or serum prolactin response to haloperidol. Our results suggest that steady-state plasma levels of haloperidol determined by the GLC chemical assay are a better predictor of decreases in BPRS Psychosis factor scores than RR assayed plasma haloperidol levels or prolactin response to haloperidol.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chromatography, Gas
  • Female
  • Haloperidol / blood*
  • Haloperidol / pharmacology
  • Haloperidol / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prolactin / blood*
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Radioligand Assay
  • Schizophrenia / blood
  • Schizophrenia / diagnosis
  • Schizophrenia / drug therapy*
  • Schizophrenic Psychology*

Substances

  • Prolactin
  • Haloperidol