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Use of risperidone in a paediatric population: an observational study
1Department of Psychological Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.
Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|September 13, 2003
Summary
Risperidone effectively improved behavior and function in children with severe disturbances, but side effects were common. Further trials are needed to confirm safety and efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Severe behavioral disturbances in children and adolescents pose significant challenges.
- Functional impairment is a key concern in pediatric behavioral disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of risperidone in improving functional impairment in pediatric patients.
- To document the adverse drug reactions associated with risperidone use in this population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective assessment of 51 children and adolescents treated with risperidone.
- Evaluation of clinical response and adverse events.
- Measurement of functional performance using the Measure of Function (MOF) score.
Main Results:
- 76% of patients showed clinical improvement after an average of 9 months.
- A statistically significant improvement in mean MOF scores was observed.
- Common side effects included sedation (27%) and weight gain (20%).
Conclusions:
- Risperidone appears effective for severely behaviorally disturbed pediatric patients, particularly those with autistic spectrum disorders.
- High frequency of side effects may limit risperidone's use.
- Randomized controlled trials are necessary to establish definitive safety and efficacy.