Antipsychotic drug treatment in the prodromal phase of schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
The safety and tolerability of short-term treatment with a low dose of risperidone was evaluated in adolescents with prodromal symptoms and a family history of schizophrenia.


METHODS
Four prodromal high-risk adolescents and six first-episode patients with schizophrenia were treated with average doses of 1.0 and 1.8 mg/day of risperidone, respectively, in an 8- to 12-week open-label trial.


RESULTS
No significant treatment-related adverse events were noted. Severity of thought and behavior disturbance ratings declined by about 30%; performance on a test of verbal learning improved by about 100% during treatment in both prodromal and first-episode patients, changes that achieved statistical significance despite the small group sizes.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings are preliminary and should not be used to guide health care decisions at this time. Randomized controlled trials are needed to determine whether antipsychotic drug treatment of prodromal patients can delay or prevent onset or attenuate the clinical course of schizophrenia.
Cannon
Tyrone D
TD
Department of Psychology, University of California-Los Angeles, 1285 Franz Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. cannon@psych.ucla.edu
Huttunen
Matti O
MO
Dahlström
Minna
M
Larmo
Ilkka
I
Räsänen
Pirkko
P
Juriloo
Alo
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018967:Risperidone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014706:Verbal Learning
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018967:Risperidone