An Open Trial of Buspirone Added to Neuroleptics in Schizophrenic Patients

Twenty chronic schizophrenic patients completed at least 2 weeks of a 6-week trial of buspirone (mean dose 23.8 mg/day) added to a stable dose of neuroleptic. At week 6, mean scores were significantly improved (p less than 0.01) on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Simpson Angus Scale for Extrapyramidal Symptoms and the Global Assessment Scale. Overall measures of akathisia and tardive dyskinesia were not significantly changed at week 6. In the 7 patients taking oral haloperidol, mean plasma concentrations of haloperidol were significantly increased (p less than 0.05) by 26% 6 weeks after adding buspirone.