title: Risperidone augmentation for schizophrenia partially responsive to clozapine: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Risperidone augmentation of clozapine in refractory schizophrenia has theoretical but only inconsistent support from clinical trials.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine if adding risperidone to stable yet symptomatic schizophrenia outpatients on optimized clozapine monotherapy improves psychopathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled parallel-group trial of a fixed dose of 4 mg/day risperidone added for 6 weeks in 24 outpatients with schizophrenia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects who received risperidone showed a non-significant decrease in PANSS total score. The PANSS disorganized thought subscale improved significantly (beta=-3.3079, p=0.047).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our trial does not support the routine addition of risperidone to clozapine in refractory schizophrenia patients. However, much larger trials are needed to conclusively settle the question of added efficacy from this combination.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital Schizophrenia Program, Freedom Trail Clinic, 25 Staniford St., 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02114, USA. ofreudenreich@partners.org
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Freudenreich
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Jared P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Culhane
authors.forename: Donald C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Goff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003024:Clozapine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D018967:Risperidone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D011388:Prolactin; D003024:Clozapine; D018967:Risperidone