A Controlled Trial of Combined Medications on Behavioral and Extrapyramidal Effects

SUMMARY Under double‐blind conditions, increasing amounts of perphenazine, or a perphenazine‐amitriptyline combination, were given to chronic schizophrenic patients already receiving “optimal” therapeutic dosages of perphenazine. Slight behavioral improvement was obtained in both groups, but a significantly smaller amount of extrapyramidal side effects was noted in the group receiving the combination. A double‐blind crossover study was used, which eliminated any order effect. The implications of these findings for therapy are briefly discussed.