High-dose haloperidol increases CSF opioid activity in patients with chronic schizophrenia.

Abstract

Summary Concentrations of Fraction land II endorphins in CSF and serum and CSF haloperidol levels were determined in 12 pa tients with therapy-resistant chronic schizophrenia during high dose haloperidol medication. After increasing the haloperidol dose from 60 mg to 120 mg daily a tendency for an increase of CSF Fraction Iendorphin level was observed (t = 1.65 p > 0.05), In addition, there was a trend for a parallel increase of CSF Fraction I endorphin and serum and CSF heloperidol lev els although the correlations did not reach statistical signific ance. Hohe