The clinical significance of halopemide, a dopamine-blocker related to the butyrophenones.

The resocializing and activating properties of halopemide were investigated in an open study and a double-blind study in 20 patients who had been hospitalized on account of various psychiatric disorders. The results of the open study showed a significant improvement in contact and activity, regardless of the nosological characteristics. There was no significant difference in therapeutic effect between the single (2 X 10 mg/day) and the double (2 X 20 mg/day) dose. The patients were more approachable, sought contact with their surroundings and showed a greater interest in their work. However, these results were not confirmed by the double-blind study, which for these target symptoms showed no significant difference between the placebo phase and halopemide phase. Two factors that might explain the discrepancy between the results of the open study and the double-blind study are postulated: the difference in experimental methods and the short duration of the study phases.