Psychosomatic Medicine 6:132-140 (1944)
© 1944 American Psychosomatic Society

Combined Amphetamine Sulfate (Benzedrine Sulfate) and Belladonna Alkaloidtherapy of the Regression Neuroses

Report of this Medication with Clinical and Normal Subjects

¹ Department of Neuropsychiatry, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, Wisconsin

A group of eight patients were treated with combined amphetamine sulfate and belladonna alkaloid medication. Five of these represented regression neuroses, schizoid type, two were schizophrenics who had already received electric shock therapy, and one was an early schizophrenic.

Pronounced objective and subjective improvement was noted in all of the regression neuroses. The remaining patients were benefited but not to as great a degree. The results of Rorschach tests paralleled, in general, the beneficial clinical changes.

Aggressive tendencies, improved social adjustment, increased energy output and a sense of well being replaced those symptoms referable to withdrawal, lack of energy and self-confidence, sexual and emotional abnormalities and feelings of frustration.

The optimal belladonna alkaloid dosage was found to occur coincidentally with the onset of asialia.

No signs of habituation, tachyphylaxis, or toxic effects of the medication were noted.

Cases of reactive (benign) depression, manic-depressive, depressed psychosis and developed simple, hebephrenic and paranoid schizophrenia have not responded to this therapy.

Note:

Supplied by the Smith, Kline and French Laboratories, Philadelphia, Pa.

Supplied by Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana.

The author wishes to express his gratitude to Dr. Annette C. Washburne, of the Student Health Clinic of the University of Wisconsin, for her valuable criticism and advice in the preparation of this article.