Antipsychotic polypharmacy in the emergency treatment of highly aggressive schizophrenic prisoners ‐ a retrospective study

Abstract

In past years, Zuclopenthixolacetate as well as Flupentixoldecanoate have each proven to be reliable and efficient in the treatment of schizophrenic psychoses. In a specially implemented psychiatric treatment unit (PTU) we administered a high‐dose depot neuroleptic combination therapy initially consisting of both substances to seriously ill schizophrenic prisoners who exhibited highly aggressive behaviour (N = 20). We initially used both antipsychotics at the same time as a simple regimen in order to restore the prisoners’ health to enable them to return to their home prisons. A single coercive intervention was performed in 14 out of 20 prisoners which was followed by a second one in two cases according to Article 101 of the German Code of Criminal Procedure. On average, prisoners needed a treatment course of 30.4 days. Within this time PANSS global scores were reduced by approximately 40%. Side effects occurring as a consequence of neuroleptic treatment were negligible and could be dealt with.

Citation

Witzel, J.G., Gubka, U., Weisser, H. and Bogerts, B. (2008), "Antipsychotic polypharmacy in the emergency treatment of highly aggressive schizophrenic prisoners ‐ a retrospective study", International Journal of Prisoner Health, Vol. 4 No. 2, pp. 96-103. https://doi.org/10.1080/17449200802038165