We performed the double-blind placebo-controlled study to investigate the therapeutic effect of sodium valproate known as GABA-ergic agent on tardive dyskinesia. 15 out of 31 patients were treated with sodium valproate (maintenance dose: 1500-2700㎎) and the rest of them were treated with placabo over 8 weeks.
We checked the severity of tardive dyskinesia by TDRS (Tardive Dyskinesia Rating Scale, Simpson et al, 1979) just before treatment, the 4th week, the 8th week and the 12th week following beginning of treatment.
We checked the serum level of sodium valproate at the 4th weeks and the 8th weeks since the beginning of treatment.
The results were as follows:
1) Both TDRS scores of 4th week and 8th week were significantly low compared with those of pretreatment in the group treated with sodium valproate (P＜0.001), but TDRS scores returned to the pretreatment score at 12th week (4 weeks after withdrawal of medication). There was no significant relationship between serum level of sodium valproate and TDRS total scores.
2) All of the TDRS scores of 4th week, 8th week, and 12th week were significantly low compared with those of pretreatment in the group treated with placebo.(P＜0.01)
3) TDRS scores of the group treated with sodium valproate were not significantly different from those of the group treated with placebo at the time prior to treatment, 4th week, 8th week and 12th week.
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