THIORIDAZINE (MELLARIL?) IN PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS

Thioridazine (Mellaril®) was given to 104 psychiatric patients with a variety of illnesses, chiefly schizophrenic reactions. Of 14 patients treated in a double-blind study with successive one-month courses of drug or placebo, nine improved most on the drug and only one on placebo. These results, although limited, confirm a definite therapeutic action for this compound.Nine of 24 patients were significantly improved after treatment with thioridazine for an average of four months following previous treatwith other phenothiazine tranquilizers. Of ten patients treated intensively with thioridazine after they had not responded to other phenothiazine drugs, two were definitely improved and three were slightly improved. Twenty-eight of 56 patients treated from the outset with thioridazine were significantly improved after an average of six months. Most patients received from 100 to 400 mg. daily. These results were comparable to those obtained from other potent phenothiazine tranquilizers. The drug is particularly advantageous for a group of schizophrenic patients who are sometimes made worse by other phenothiazine derivatives or rauwolfia alkaloids. It should also be suitable for treating patients with psychoneuroses and chronic brain syndromes.Only minimal side reactions were observed, chiefly drowsiness, dizziness and nasal stuffiness. Weight gain occurred frequently during treatment.     

Induction of dopaminergic mesolimbic receptor supersensitivity by haloperidol

Prior exposure to neuroleptics augments the severity of apomorphine-induced stereotypy. This is regarded as a manifestation of increased sensitivity of striatal dopaminergic receptors and has been offered as a model of tardive dyskinesia. The purpose of this study was to determine if neuroleptics modify the sensitivity of mesolimbic dopaminergic receptors. Haloperidol or saline was administered to rats for four weeks. There followed a one week withdrawal period in which cannulae were placed bilaterally in the nucleus accumbens. Histological examination confirmed cannulae placement. Animals received 0, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 or 10 μg of dopamine through both cannulae beginning eight days after the discontinuation of haloperidol or saline. Locomotor activity was measured in photocell-equipped cages. Animals with a prior exposure to haloperidol had significantly more locomotor activity than control animals. These results indicate that, in the rat, haloperidol can produce a supersensitive dopaminergic mesolimbic receptor.     

Predictors of Condom Use among Peer Social Networks of Men Who Have Sex with Men in Ghana,West Africa

Ghanaian men who have sex with men (MSM) have high rates of HIV infection. A first step in designing culturally relevant prevention interventions for MSM in Ghana is to understand the influence that peer social networks have on their attitudes and behaviors. We aimed to examine whether, in a sample of Ghanaian MSM, mean scores on psychosocial variables theorized to influence HIV/STI risk differed between peer social networks and to examine whether these variables were associated with condom use. We conducted a formative, cross-sectional survey with 22 peer social networks of MSM (n = 137) in Ghana. We assessed basic psychological-needs satisfaction, HIV/STI knowledge, sense of community, HIV and gender non-conformity stigmas, gender equitable norms, sexual behavior and condom use. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance, generalized estimating equations, and Wilcoxon two sample tests. All models were adjusted for age and income, ethnicity, education, housing and community of residence. Mean scores for all psychosocial variables differed significantly by social network. Men who reported experiencing more autonomy support by their healthcare providers had higher odds of condom use for anal (AOR = 3.29, p<0.01), oral (AOR = 5.06, p<0.01) and vaginal (AOR = 1.8, p<0.05) sex. Those with a stronger sense of community also had higher odds of condom use for anal sex (AOR = 1.26, p<0.001). Compared to networks with low prevalence of consistent condom users, networks with higher prevalence of consistent condom users had higher STD and HIV knowledge, had norms that were more supportive of gender equity, and experienced more autonomy support in their healthcare encounters. Healthcare providers and peer social networks can have an important influence on safer-sex behaviors in Ghanaian MSM. More research with Ghanaian MSM is needed that considers knowledge, attitudes, and norms of their social networks in the development and implementation of culturally relevant HIV/STI prevention intervention strategies.