Placebo-controlled studies in acute schizophrenia — an issue of concern

Benzodiazepines and GABA hypothesis of schizophrenia

“…Essentially, such studies should be of the highest scientific value and should provide unequivocal results. Studies of BDZ coadministered with neuroleptics are not considered in the present review because, due to inherent methodological bias, they a priori do not provide conclusive evidence of drug efficacy (Delini-Stula and Berdah-Tordjman, 1994). Pertinent pharmacological findings on the role of GABA and BDZ in schizophrenia are also reviewed briefly in view of the problems in their interpretation.…”