USE OF MILTOWN (MEPROBAMATE) WITH PSYCHOTIC PATIENTS

Miltown (meprobamate) was studied in 300 hospitalized psychotic patients. In the dosage range from two to twenty-four 400 mg. tablets daily, the drug produced complete remission of symptoms in 3% of patients, striking improvement in 35%, some improvement in an additional 46%, and no significant change in the remaining 16%. Physical gains resulting from better sleeping habits and relaxation were made in about half the patients. Paranoid schizophrenics appeared to derive greatest benefit from the drug.

Noisy, assaultive, eneuritic, delusional, hallucinated patients were generally relieved of these symptoms, although psychological residuals usually remained. Psychological testing showed improvement in the Rorschach and Bender-Gestalt tests with an effort, in many cases still showing psychotic traits, to reach healthy relationships with their environment. Eight patients tested normal after taking the drug. Most of the remainder showed increased ability to sublimate their abnormal psychological drives, and to get along in their milieu.

Thirty-three patients were able to be discharged from the hospital following Miltown treatment, and 27 were ready for release as soon as arrangements for family custody could be made.

Retarded, blocked, hypoactive patients were not as markedly benefited as the hyperactive, noisy type.

The safety of Miltown and its almost complete lack of side effects, except for hypotension in high dosage, makes it an ataraxic of choice. It is an important addition to the armamentarium of the neuropsychiatrist.