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Effects of prolonged phenothiazine intake on psychotic and other hospitalized children

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Abstract

Four related studies of infrequently recognized side effects (weight changes, tardive dyskinesia, impaired learning, and ocular changes) of prolonged phenothiazine intake by children with severe disorders of behavior are presented and discussed. The retrospective investigation involving 86 hospitalized boys and 39 girls, 4 to 16 years of age, covered a 5-year period. Weight gains in 29 out of 30 patients were significantly related to Thioridazine intake. Tardive dyskinesia occurred in 10 children receiving high doses of phenothiazines over prolonged periods. Discontinuation of Thioridazine prompted accelerated learning in 3 boys as evidenced by their periodically measured Stanford Achievement Test scores. Lens stippling occurred in 2 patients whose cumulative Chlorpromazine intake was below 200 grams, and in 3 with higher doses of phenothiazines. Judicious use of phenothiazines in long-term treatment of mentally ill children may be facilitated by routine individual double blind procedures involving patients as their own controls.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Winnebago State Hospital, 54985, Winnebago, Wisconsin

    John B. McAndrew, Quentin Case & Darold A. Treffert

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  1. John B. McAndrew
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  2. Quentin Case
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  3. Darold A. Treffert
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McAndrew, J.B., Case, Q. & Treffert, D.A. Effects of prolonged phenothiazine intake on psychotic and other hospitalized children. J Autism Dev Disord 2, 75–91 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537628

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