Long-term neuroleptic treatment of chronic schizophrenic patients: clinical and biochemical effects of withdrawal.

In 17 chronic schizophrenic patients under chronic neuroleptic treatment for 13 years, a 30-day drug withdrawal resulted in early relapse of four patients, slight deterioration in five, and slight amelioration in eight patients. No incidence of neuroleptic symptoms such as tardive dyskinesia occurred. Prolactin in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), not being elevated under chronic treatment, decreased significantly after 30 days of withdrawal. Homovanillic acid and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol in CSF ranged normally and did not change during withdrawal. In contrast, plasma noradrenaline was elevated and decreased after drug discontinuation. No unequivocal relationship between biochemical and psychopathological features was found.