Skip to main content
Log in

The treatment of tardive dyskinesia with baclofen

  • Original Investigations
  • Published:
Psychopharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Thirty-one psychiatric outpatients with tardive dyskinesia (TD) on neuroleptic medication were followed in a double-blind, randomized trial comparing baclofen (30–90 mg per day) to placebo. A repeated measures analysis of variance revealed no statistical difference between the baclofen-treated group and the placebo group for the group and the placebo group for the total Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) scores. There was a trend (P=0.09) for an initial improvement, then a worsening of frequency counts across four visits. The authors attempt to explain this finding on the basis of information obtained from animal research.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Crane JE (1968) Tardive dyskinesia in patients treated with major neuroleptics: A review of the literature. Am J Psychiatry (Suppl):40–54

  • Endicott J, Spitzer RL (1979) A diagnostic interview: The schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia. Arch Gen Psychiatry 35:837–844

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerlach J (1977) The relationship between parkinsonism and tardive dyskinesia. Am J Psychiatry 134:781–784

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerlach J, Rye T, Kristjansen P (1978) Effect of baclofen on tardive dyskinesia. Psychopharmacology 56:145–151

    Google Scholar 

  • Glazer WM, Moore DC (1981) A tardive dyskinesia clinic in mental health center. Hosp Commun Psychiatry 32:572–574

    Google Scholar 

  • Grace AA, Bunney BS (1980) Effects of baclofen on nigral dopaminergic cell activity following acute and chronic haloperidol treatment. GABA Neurotrans Br Res Bull 5 (Suppl 2):537–543

    Google Scholar 

  • Gulmann NC, Bahr B, Anderson B, et al. (1976) A double blind trial of baclofen against placebo in the treatment of schizophrenia. Acta Psychiatr Scand 54:287–293

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollister LE (1973) Clinical use of psychotherapeutic drugs. Charles C Thomas, Springfield IL

    Google Scholar 

  • Itil TM, Herkert E, Schneider SJ, et al. (1980) Baclofen in the treatment of tardive dyskinesia: Open label study. Acta Therapeutica 6:315–323

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeste DV, Wyatt RJ (1979) In search of treatment for tardive dyskinesia: A review of the literature. Schiz Bull 5:251–293

    Google Scholar 

  • Klawans HL (1973) The pharmacology of tardive dyskinesia. Am J Psychiatry 130:82–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Korsgaard S (1976) Baclofen (Lioresel) in the treatment of neuroleptic-induced tardive dyskinesia. Br J Psychiatry 129:114–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Nair NPV, Yassa R, Ruiv-Navarro J, Schwartz G (1978) Baclofen in the treatment of tardive dyskinesia. Am J Psychiatry 135:1562–1563

    Google Scholar 

  • Overall J, Gorham D (1967) Brief pschiatric rating scale. Psychol Rep 10:799–812

    Google Scholar 

  • Richardson MA, Craig TJ, Branchey MH (1982) Intra-patient variability in the measurement of tardive dyskinesia. Psychopharmacology 76:269–272

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson GM, Lee H, Branchey MH, Shrivastavai RK (1978) Baclofen in the treatment of tardive dyskinesia. Psychopharmacol Bull 14:16–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith JM, Jucharski LT, Oswald MA (1979) A systematic investigation of tardive dyskinesia in patients. Am J Pschiatry 136:918–922

    Google Scholar 

  • Spitzer R, Endivott J (1978) Research diagnostic criteria, 3rd ed. State of New York, NY state psychiatric institute instrument no 59

  • Stewart MR, Collins J, Beckham B, Roffman M (1982) Baclofen in tardive dyskinesia patients maintained on neuroleptics. Clin Neuropharmacol 5:365–373

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

UMDMJ-Rutgers Medical School and Department of Clinical Research, CIBA-GEIGY Corporation

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Glazer, W.M., Moore, D.C., Bowers, M.B. et al. The treatment of tardive dyskinesia with baclofen. Psychopharmacology 87, 480–483 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00432517

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00432517

Key words

Navigation