Neuroleptic-Induced Depression and Suicidality

Van Putten and May (1978) found that 47% of their patients developed akinesia and that most of these became depressed. Confirming the brain-disabling principle, as these patients became depressed, they were rated as improved in their schizophrenia, probably because they became relatively inactive, retarded, withdrawn, and even mute. 

Small andKellams (1974) noted reports of patients becoming suicidal as a result of treatment with the long-acting injectable form of Prolixin. Others have confirmed that suicide can result from neuroleptic-induced depression (Alarcon et al., 1969 Hogan et al., 1983). 

Neuroleptic-induced depression was recognized as a problem by Mayerhoff and Lieberman (1992), who pointed out that reported incidence rates of neuroleptic-induced so-called akinetic depression reach as high as 50%, with an average of 25%. Frequency probably increases with the long-acting intramuscular neuroleptics. 

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