High-dose antipsychotic medication in maximum security

Abstract

This study compares patients in an English Special Hospital treated on high doses of neuroleptics with a matched group of patients on standard doses. High-dose patients had significantly more psychiatric morbidity and side-effects than controls. They were also rated as more aggressive, but psychosis rather than aggression best predicted antipsychotic dose. This study adds support to the case that there is little benefit from the use of high-dose antipsychotics.