On the effects of Pyritinol
on functional deficits of patients with organic mental disorders.
Herrmann WM, Kern U, Rohmel J.
Pharmacopsychiatry 1986 Sep;19(5):378-385
ABSTRACT
In 120 geriatric patients suffering from
cerebral functional disorders with a moderate to rather severe degree of
chronic brain syndrome, the effects of pyritinol were investigated in a
placebo-controlled, randomized double-blind study. Furthermore, we
attempted to find some evidence for the validity of a
neurophysiological vigilance model which had already been used earlier.
In the previous study it had been possible to show a rise in the vigilance
level in patients under pyritinol treatment. The investigation began with a
two-week single-blind placebo wash-out phase and continued over a 12-week
treatment period, with six weeks' treatment in a hospital ward and six weeks'
outpatient treatment (or in a geriatric home within a hospital setting).
Pyritinol was administered three times daily in coated tablets each containing
200 mg. The course of the trial was controlled using two rating scales (SCAG,
BGP), a physician's Global Impression (GI) and two performance tests (SKT, ZVT-G).
There were 13 drop-outs, four because of intercurrent diseases, nine because
they did not fulfill the inclusion criteria. The data of 107 patients
were included in the statistical analysis, 54 on pyritinol and 53 on
placebo. No notable adverse drug reactions were observed that were not
similarly reported in the placebo group. Statistically significant
results were found in favor of pyritinol compared with placebo in both the
level of clinical symptomatology and the performance level. Particularly
impressive was the superiority of pyritinol in the factor "social
behavior" of the SCAG. Considering the clinical relevance of the
changes it can be concluded that in both groups improvements occurred.
