Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, neuropsychiatric symptoms of apathy-amotivation syndrome and particularly those symptoms in: Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's chorea, frontal lobe lesions, and AIDS dementia can be ameliorated by treating a patient with a histamine H.sub.2 -antagonist that passes the blood-brain barrier. Suitable H.sub.2 -antagonists include famotidine and ranitidine. The H.sub.2 -antagonists may be co-administered with other compounds which are known to be useful in the treatment of the above neuropsychiatric conditions, and in one aspect of the invention can be formulated with such other compounds into a therapeutic composition.

Abstract: The neuropsychiatric symptom of bradyphrenia in a Parkinson's Disease patient may be ameliorated by treating the patient with a histamine H.sub.2 -antagonist that passes the blood brain barrier. Suitable H.sub.2 -antagonists include famotidine and ranitidine. The H.sub.2 -antagonists may be co-administered with other compounds such as histamine H.sub.1 -antagonists which are known to be useful in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease, and can be formulated with such other compounds into a therapeutic composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of treating movement disorders which comprise administering famotidine or a related compound to a subject in need of such treatment, wherein the motor disorder is selected from the group consisting of olivo-ponto-cerebellar atrophy, multi-system atrophy, Shy-Drager syndrome, kernicterus, Leigh's disease, cerebellar ataxias, neonatal hypoxemia syndromes, carbon monoxide poisoning, progressive supranuclear palsy, tardive dystonias, oculogyral crises, manganese poisoning, Wilson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, striatonigral degeneration, ingestion by the subject of phenothiazines, butyrophenones or reserpine, Alzheimer's Disease, normal pressure hydrocephalus, obstructive hydrocephalus, physiologic tremor, benign familial tremor, cerebellar tremor, rubral tremor, toxic tremor, metabolic tremor, senile tremor, chorea, ballism, athetosis, dystonia, tics, tardive dyskinesia, paroxysmal choreoathetosis, tonic spasm, akathisia, muscle rigidity, postural instability, bradykine

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, neuropsychiatric symptoms of apathy-amotivation syndrome and particularly those symptoms in: Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's chorea, frontal lobe lesions, and AIDS dementia can be ameliorated by treating a patient with a histamine H.sub.2 -antagonist that passes the blood-brain barrier. Suitable H.sub.2 -antagonists include famotidine and ranitidine. The H.sub.2 -antagonists may be co-administered with other compounds which are known to be useful in the treatment of the above neuropsychiatric conditions, and in one aspect of the invention can be formulated with such other compounds into a therapeutic composition.

Abstract: Neuropsychiatric symptoms of Parkinson's Disease and particularly the symptoms of apathy-amotivation and mental slowing can be ameliorated by treating a patient suffering from Parkinson's Disease with a histamine H.sub.2 -antagonist that passes the blood brain barrier. Suitable H.sub.2 -antagonists include famotidine and ranitidine. The H.sub.2 -antagonists may be co-administered with other compounds such as histamine H,-antagonists which are known to be useful in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease, and can be formulated with such other compounds into a therapeutic composition.

Abstract: Persons suffering from negative symptoms of schizophrenia can be successfully treated using a histamine H.sub.2 -antagonist which crosses the blood-brain barrier so as to interact with histamine-H.sub.2 receptors in the brain. A preferred H.sub.2 -antagonist is famotidine. The H.sub.2 -antagonist may be used alone in patients who are relatively free of positive symptoms or it may be used in combination with known neuroleptics. A pharmaceutical composition containing both an H.sub.2 -antagonist and a neuroleptic is part of the present invention.

Abstract: Persons suffering from negative symptoms of schizophrenia can be successfy treated using a histamine H.sub.2 -antagonist which crosses the blood-brain barrier so as to interact with histamine-H.sub.2 receptors in the brain. A preferred H.sub.2 -antagonist is famotidine. The H.sub.2 -antagonist may be used alone in patients who are relatively free of positive symptoms or it may be used in combination with known neuroleptics. A pharmaceutical composition containing both an H.sub.2 -antagonist and a neuroleptic is part of the present invention.