title: Long-term assessment of the efficacy and tolerability of risperidone in early schizophrenia: An international multicenter study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE The aim of this open multicenter international study was an assessment of the efficacy and tolerability of risperidone administered for 12 months in patients with early schizophrenia. METHODS Two hundred and five patients, 113 male and 92 female, aged 15-46 years were included. The mean daily risperidone dose was 3.3±1.4 mg/day and in three-quarters of patients the dose was in the range of 2-4 mg. For psychometric assessment the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) were used. RESULTS One hundred and thirty-two patients (64%) completed the study. Significant improvement (at least 20% reduction) was found on PANSS subscales for positive symptoms (89% of patients), negative symptoms (77% of patients), as well as for depressive symptoms measured by MADRS (78% of patients). Parkinsonian symptoms occurred in 53 patients (26.5%), necessitating the use of anticholinergic drugs. Risperidone treatment did not exert a significant effect on vital signs and on ECG recordings. CONCLUSION The results suggest that, in a substantial proportion of patients with early schizophrenia, risperidone can be successfully used for initiation of pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia and then be continued on the long-term basis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Psychiatry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Janusz K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Rybakowski
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jarema
keywords: first episode; risperidone; schizophrenia