A double-blind pilot study of risperidone in the treatment of conduct disorder.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether risperidone is superior to placebo in the treatment of youths with conduct disorder.


METHODS
This was a 10-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with 2 parallel arms. Ten youths were randomly assigned to receive placebo and 10 youths were randomly assigned to receive risperidone. Patients were seen weekly throughout the trial. Medications could be increased at weekly intervals during the first 6 weeks of the study from an initial dose of 0.25 mg or 0.50 mg each morning, depending on patient weight. Patients weighing less than 50 kg had a maximum total daily dose of risperidone of 1.5 mg. Patients weighing 50 kg or greater had a maximum total daily dose of risperidone of 3.0 mg. The primary outcome measure was the Rating of Aggression Against People and/or Property Scale.


RESULTS
Risperidone was superior to placebo in ameliorating aggression on most measures. Risperidone was reasonably well tolerated, with none of the risperidone-treated patients developing extrapyramidal side effects.


CONCLUSIONS
These data provide preliminary evidence that risperidone may have efficacy in the treatment of youths with conduct disorder. Because of the small sample size and the brief length of this study, further research is necessary to confirm these findings.
Findling
R L
RL
Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine/University Hospitals of Cleveland, OH 44106-5080, USA.
McNamara
N K
NK
Branicky
L A
LA
Schluchter
M D
MD
Lemon
E
E
Blumer
J L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018967:Risperidone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018967:Risperidone