ISONIAZID IN TREATMENT OF THE CHRONIC SCHIZOPHRENIC PATIENT

Abstract

SINCE the demonstration of the antituberculosis activity in experimental animals and in vitro of the hydrazine derivatives of isonicotinic acid^*and their therapeutic use in human tuberculosis,⁴both the Committee on Therapy of the American Trudeau Society⁵and the Tuberculosis Chemotherapy Trials Committee of the Medical Research Council of Great Britain⁶have mentioned the occurrence of adverse mental reactions as one of the occasional toxic effects. An early report noted intensified color imagery.⁷Similar color intoxication has been observed preceding the formed visual hallucinations in mescaline † and<i>d</i>-lysergic acid¹⁰psychosis. The usual progression, however, is from irritability to a toxic delirium, with confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, and delusions.‡ In one of the two cases of peripheral neuropathy described by Jones and Jones¹³an associated pellagra-like dermatitis and mental confusion followed isoniazid therapy. McConnell and Cheetham¹⁴report acute pellagra during isoniazid therapy, with