The effect of risperidone on cognition in patients with schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of risperidone on cognitive functions after both 6 weeks and 6 months of treatment and to determine whether any improvement on neuropsychological function relates to improvement in psychopathology.


METHODS
Patients' psychiatric and extrapyramidal symptoms were assessed while they were receiving classical neuroleptic treatment and adjunctive medications. Patients were then reassessed after changing to a new treatment of risperidone.


RESULTS
During treatment with risperidone, schizophrenic patients displayed improved performance mainly on attentional components, specifically, selective attention and alertness.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients who were given risperidone, there was a positive correlation between improvement in psychopathology and improvement in cognitive tests of explicit memory and alertness.
Centre de recherche Fernand-Seguin, Hôpital Louis-H Lafontaine, Montréal, QC.
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Lussier
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018967:Risperidone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018967:Risperidone