THE EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF DERIVATIVES OF RAUWOLFIA IN THE TREATMENT OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

Six derivatives of Rauwolfia were used in the treatment of a series of chronic schizophrenics, and the therapeutic results were compared among themselves and with results obtained through the use of placebos. The patients were selected with consideration of adequate matching and were evaluated psychiatrically before treatment. The course of their illness was systematically studied during the administration of the treatment and for a period of 6 months to one year after termination of the treatment. The comparison of the effects of both drugs and placebos was in terms of changes in specific behavior items, as well as the general evaluation of their clinical status and adjustment in the hospital or outside as judged by the hospital personnel. The results obtained justify the following conclusions:

1. The drugs differed from one another in terms of the degree of beneficial effect on the general condition of the patients, some being more effective than others; and all the drugs were more effective than the placebos. However, the spread was not too wide and some improvements were observed even in the patients to whom placebos were administered.

2. The effects of the drugs showed a trend toward specificity in that each drug tended to have a greater effect upon certain behavior items than was obtained with other drugs.

3. In the case of some of the drugs, the beneficial effect produced during treatment was maintained after termination and through the follow-up period, whereas in others this effect was not maintained.