Long-Term High-Dose Neuroleptic Treatment: who Gets it and why?

The purposes of the study were to determine whether and what ways high dose patients on neuroleptic medication differed from patients on regular dosages and whether the higher dosages were more effective. The high dose patients represented a subgroup of chronic regressed and violent patients. The authors concluded that, clinicians prescribed high dosages and continued to use them despite a lack of clear evidence that such treatment is effective. (16 refs.)