Reserpine as a therapeutic agent in schizophrenia.

Abstract

The rapid and dramatic response of schizophrenic patients to treatment with the phenothiazines has resulted in a tendency to discard reserpine as a chemotherapeutic agent in this illness. Our experience suggests that there is a place in the therapeutic armamentarium against schizophrenia for reserpine, particularly in those cases displaying catatonic excitement or stupor with agitation and in those with manic features, especially when these patients fail to respond to the phenothiazines, ECT or insulin coma therapy.