The effects of chlorpromazine on psychological test scores.

Effects of dopamine synthesis inhibition on WAIS Comprehension.

“…Our data, however, suggest that the relationship between a specific intellectual function and the specific brain neurotransmitter dopamine can be most accurately determined by quantitative assessment, that is, the patient's scored responses to the Comprehension subtest. Several studies that have investigated the effects of antipsychotic drugs on the WAIS scores of normal and schizophrenic subjects reported significantly improved scores (Abrams, 1958;Gardner, Hawkins, Judah, & Murphree, 1955;Gilgash, 1957), whereas others reported no changes (Judson & Mac Casland, 1960;Pare-des, Baumgold, Pugh, & Ragland, 1966). One study (Gilgash, 1957) indicated that a group of schizophrenic patients showed a greater point average increase on the Comprehension subtest than on any other sufotest of the Verbal scale subsequent to chlorpromazine medication.…”

“…Over the past 25 years, treatment of the schizophrenic disorders has been dramatically altered with the widespread use of antipsychotic drugs. A large number of studies have established that chlorpromazine and other antipsychotic drugs are effective for the treatment of acute psychotic decompensation and the prevention of relapses (Engelhardt, Freedman, Rosen, Mann, & Margolis, 1964;Lasky, Klett, Caffey, Bennett, Rosenblum, & Hollister, 1962;National Institute of Mental Health, 1964).…”

The effects of psychotropic drugs on psychological testing.

“…Most studies of the effect of chlorpromazine on the Rorschach have not found differences between pre-and posttest scores under drug treatments (300-1200 mg.) ranging from 3| weeks to 4 months (Abrams, 1958;Belmont, Pollack, Willner, Klein, & Fink, 1963;Castner et al, 1958;Gardner et al, 1955;Judson & MacCasland, 1960;Nickols, 1958). The only consistent change reported was a decrease in the number of form responses.…”

“…A number of studies have also reported no changes in intellectual functioning (Gibbs, Wilkens, & Lauterbach, 1956;Judson & MacCasland, 1960;Lehmann & Csank, 1957;Mason-Browne, 1957;Nickols, 1958;Paredes, Baumgold, Pugh, & Ragland, 1966;Ray, Ragland, & Clark, 1964;Tourlentes, Hunsiker, & Hurd, 1958). In the research designs of these studies the subjects were retested over a range of 4 days to 1-J months with chlorpromazine dosages of 75-200 mg.…”

Effects of chlorpromazine on learning and related processes in emotionally disturbed children.

“…Gilgash (1961) reported improvement in IQ scores in adult catatonics following chlorpromazine, while Gibbs, Wilkens, and Lauterbach (1957) found greater IQ score improvement in adult patients treated with placebo than in those treated with chlorpromazine. Two reports (Porteus, 1957;Porteus & Barclay, 1957) indicated significant declines in Porteus Maze perform-ance in adult patients treated with chlorpromazine, while a third (Judson & MacCasland, 1960) failed to find a significant effect.…”