Schizophrenia in the Mentally Retarded: A Comparative Study of the Therapeutic Efficacy of Thiothixene and Thioridazine.

Treated 16 normal IQ and 17 retarded adult schizophrenic inpatients with thiothixene and 14 normal IQ and 14 retarded adult schizophrenics with thioridazine. Data show that (a) both agents were effective; (b) the mean dosage levels required of each drug were less in the retarded Ss; and (c) thiothixene had an earlier onset of therapeutic effect. It is suggested that the higher incidence of major sedative side effects with thioridazine can further adversely affect the learning potential of mentally retarded schizophrenics.