title: Risperidone and cognitive function in children with disruptive behavior disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Effects of risperidone on cognitive function in children with disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs) and subaverage intelligence quotient (IQ) were assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from two 6-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies (n = 228) were combined, as were three 1-year, open-label studies (n = 688). Patients with DBDs and subaverage IQ, 5 to14 years, received placebo or risperidone .02 to .06 mg/kg/day. Cognitive measures included the Continuous Performance Task (CPT) and Verbal Learning Test for Children (VLT-C). Efficacy was assessed using the Nisonger Child Behavior Rating Form (NCBRF). Adverse events were collected via spontaneous report; sedation was assessed using visual analog scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Improvements on the NCBRF Conduct Problem subscale were significantly greater for risperidone- versus placebo-treated patients (-15.8 vs. -6.4, p < .0001) in short-term studies; significant reductions were observed in long-term studies (-16.3, p < .0001). No overall decline and some significant improvement in attention (CPT) and memory (VLT-C) were noted regardless of treatment in short-term studies. VLT-C improved significantly (p < .0001) for both groups, with no difference between treatment groups. Improvements in memory (VLT-C) and attention (CPT) were noted in long-term studies. Somnolence/sedation did not affect cognitive function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cognitive function was not altered by risperidone in short-term studies and was maintained or improved with one year of treatment in children with DBDs and subaverage IQ, potentially representing age-appropriate gains.
authors.affiliation: Medical Affairs, Janssen Pharmaceutica, Inc., Titusville, New Jersey 08560, USA. gpandina@janus.jnj.com
authors.forename: Gahan J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Pandina
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bilder
authors.forename: Philip D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Richard S E
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Keefe
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Aman
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gharabawi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018967:Risperidone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018967:Risperidone