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
