Fatalities in Patients Receiving Chlorpromazine and Reserpine During 1956-1957 at Pilgrim State Hospital

Fatalities in the course of treatment with chlorpromazine and reserpine are much lower than with other somatic therapies. 2. Cardio-vascular and respiratory fatalities seen as the main complication with other somatic therapies are not as important complications in the course of treatment with these 2 drugs. 3. In patients with brain damage, asphyxia as the cause of death is due rather to a "masked fit" or "unnoticed convulsion" than to lack of cough reflex or some specific respiratory effect. 4. The development and appearance of ruptered peptic ulcer or a "silent" ulcer in patients receiving ataraxics should be further investigated. 5. The disappearance of the classical syndrome of "psychotic exhaustion" as a cause of death in the years of the use of ataraxics is remarkable and must be reemphasized.