title: Efficacy of risperidone on positive features of schizophrenia.
abstract: Dopaminergic hyperactivity mediated via D2 receptors is implicated in the etiology of positive symptoms of schizophrenia, but selective D2 antagonists provide imperfect therapy. This article describes a subanalysis of a trial of risperidone, a combined 5-HT2A/D2 antagonist, in 513 patients with DSM-III-R chronic schizophrenia. Risperidone at 2, 6, 10, and 16 mg/day was compared with placebo and haloperidol 20 mg/day. All doses of risperidone and the 20-mg dose of haloperidol were superior to placebo (mean change from baseline on the PANSS positive and general psychopathology subscales). The 6-mg dose of risperidone also produced significantly more improvement than haloperidol 20 mg. We conclude that risperidone is an effective drug for patients with positive features of schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: McEvoy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000187:drug effects; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects; D018967:Risperidone; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D007555:Isoxazoles; D010880:Piperidines; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D006220:Haloperidol; D018967:Risperidone