Abstract
Many schizophrenia patients take drugs that suppress salivary secretion as a side effect, such as antipsychotics and anticholinergics. Therefore, in schizophrenia patients, a decreased salivary flow, high morbidity of dental caries, and increased oral bacteria have been indicated. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of general and mental conditions on resting and stimulated salivary flow rates. The subjects of the present study consisted of 83 patients with schizophrenia hospitalized in the chronic stage ward (49 men, 34 women). Resting salivary flow rates were measured using the Oral Schirmer Test and stimulated rates were measured by chewing paraffin. The mental condition (PANSS), medicinal side effects (DIEPSS), and general conditions, such as the diagnosis (ICD-10), gender, age, and variety of medication, were investigated using the medical records. The doses of antipsychotic and anticholinergic drugs were calculated for Chlorpromazine and Biperiden. The subjects were divided into two groups: persons showing low values of secretion, and those showing no reduction in the secretion rate. The effect on mental and general conditions, ingestion while resting, and stimulated salivary flow rates was determined for each subject. The rate of subjects showing low values of secretion for resting saliva was 35.8%, and that for stimulated saliva was 81.8%. No significant decrease in the secretion rates in either the resting or stimulated condition was noted in relation to PANSS, DIEPSS, doses of drugs, and oral condition. A significant decrease in the resting secretion rate was noted in relation to patients who took depressor or diuretic drugs, and that in the stimulated secretion rate was observed in relation to patients who took anticholinergic agents, benzodiazepines, or cathartic drugs. These results suggest that the resting and stimulated salivary flow rates of schizophrenic patients were lower than normal. This reveals the necessity of preventing and treating xerostomia. The decreased salivary flow rates were not only caused by taking regular doses of antipsychotic and anticholinergic drugs, but also by the taking of other drugs that suppress salivary secretion as a side effect.
