title: Amisulpride versus risperidone treatment for behavioral and psychological symptoms in patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type: a randomized, open, prospective study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of both amisulpride and risperidone for treating the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT). Twenty-eight patients with DAT were randomly assigned to treatment with either amisulpride or risperidone for 8 weeks. The effectiveness of the treatments was assessed with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and the Clinical Global Impression-Severity of Illness (CGI-S) scale. The Simpson-Angus Rating Scale, the Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale and the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale were used for the assessment of side effects. The NPI and CGI-S scores were significantly decreased over time in both treatment groups without any significant group difference and time by treatment group interaction effect (F=71.85, p<0.0001). There were no serious adverse events in both groups. This study showed that either amisulpride or risperidone would be effective and tolerable for treating patients with DAT. Adequately powered studies with a head-to-head comparison design will be mandatory to draw any definite conclusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Kook
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Chi-Un
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Pae
authors.forename: Chul
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chang-Uk
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D000077582:Amisulpride; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D013469:Sulpiride; D000077582:Amisulpride; D018967:Risperidone