title: Risperidone and the treatment of psychiatric, motor, and cognitive symptoms in Huntington's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive, neuropsychiatric disorder, and limited reports indicate that risperidone might improve motor and psychiatric functioning for these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a retrospective, chart review study to evaluate the effectiveness of risperidone on motor, psychiatric, and cognitive functioning in HD, 17 patients taking risperidone in the course of clinical care and 12 patients not taking any antipsychotic medication were compared across a year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients taking risperidone demonstrated significantly improved psychiatric functioning and motor stabilization, whereas patients not taking risperidone were stable psychiatrically and worsened motorically.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although controlled clinical trials are clearly needed, these preliminary results support the use of risperidone in patients with HD in treating their psychiatric and possibly motor symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1000, USA. kevin-duff@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Duff
authors.forename: Leigh J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Beglinger
authors.forename: Margaret E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: O'Rourke
authors.forename: Peg
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nopoulos
authors.forename: Henry L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Paulson
authors.forename: Jane S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Paulsen
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018967:Risperidone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018967:Risperidone