Chlorpromazine in Women with Chronic Schizophrenia: The Effect on Cholesterol Levels and Cholesterol-Behavior Relationships

Abstract

In 2 carefully controlled studies with the same women with chronic schizophrenia, chlorpromazine was shown to raise serum cholesterol levels consistently and significantly. It was also a consistent finding that prior to chlorpromazine therapy cholesterol levels appeared to be related inversely to measures of withdrawal, seclusiveness, and gross psychopathology. After chlorpromazine therapy the cholesterol-behavior relationships were no longer apparent.