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Pharmacopsychiatry 2018; 51(04): 144-147
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-124372
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Sertindole: EEG Analysis, Tolerability, and Clinical Efficacy

Adam Kroc
1   Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland
,
Marta Dębicka
1   Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland
,
Aleksandra Wierzbicka
1   Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland
,
Lidia Wołkow
1   Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland
,
Wojciech Jernajczyk
1   Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland
,
Adam Wichniak
2   Third Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 17 April 2017
revised 29 October 2017

accepted 02 December 2017

Publication Date:
11 January 2018 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction One of the common side effects of antipsychotic drugs is excessive sedation. The treatment with antipsychotics often manifests as an increase in slow wave activity in electroencephalography (EEG). The aim of this study was to analyze EEG recordings of patients treated with a non-sedative antipsychotic drug sertindole with regard to its adverse effects and clinical efficacy.

Patients and methods EEG recordings of 45 patients (27 females, mean age 30.1±8.7 years) with schizophrenia were analyzed. EEG recordings were categorized based on abnormalities severity. The clinical efficacy was rated on the Clinical Global Impression Scale.

Results Abnormalities from mild to moderate were found in 29% of the group. Clinical improvement was observed in 80% of patients. Sedation/daytime sleepiness was present in 7% of patients. Other side effects were prolongation of QTc (11%, severe 4%), insomnia (9%), extrapyramidal symptoms (7%), and heart palpitations (2%).

Conclusions Patients treated with sertindole do not show side effects similar to those found during treatment with other antipsychotic drugs. Increased slow wave activity in EEG and sedation were absent in the majority of the investigated patients.

Key words

electroencephalography (EEG) - sedation - antipsychotic treatment - sertindole
 

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