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Published on: December 2, 2015
Effect of risperidone on emotion recognition deficits in antipsychotic-naïve schizophrenia: a short-term follow-up
Rishikesh V Behere1, Ganesan Venkatasubramanian, Rashmi Arasappa
1Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.
Background:
Facial emotion recognition deficits [FERD] have been consistently demonstrated in treated schizophrenia patients. FERD in treatment-naïve patients and the effect of antipsychotics are yet to be explored.
Aims:
To examine for FERD in antipsychotic-naïve schizophrenia patients and the effect of short-term atypical antipsychotic treatment on FERD.
Methods:
Twenty-five antipsychotic-naïve schizophrenia [DSM-IV] patients and 30 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy control subjects were assessed for FERD using the Tool for Recognition of Emotions in Neuropsychiatric DisorderS [TRENDS] - a culturally sensitive and valid tool. Psychopathology was assessed using SAPS and SANS. Performance of patients on TRENDS and psychopathology was re-assessed after short-term exposure to risperidone.
Results:
At baseline, the patients made significantly greater errors in recognition of negative emotions of fear and disgust which improved on follow-up. This improvement was influenced by severity of baseline negative symptoms.
Conclusion:
Risperidone treatment can improve disgust recognition deficits in patients with schizophrenia.
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