Risperidone versus haloperidol in acute and transient psychotic disorder

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Pharmacology
• Clinical Neuroscience

Background:

• The mechanism of action for newer antipsychotics like Risperidone differs from conventional agents such as Haloperidol.
• Acute and Transient Psychotic Disorder (ATPD) requires effective and well-tolerated treatment options.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and tolerability of low-dose Risperidone versus near-equivalent doses of Haloperidol in drug-naive patients with ATPD.
• To assess the onset of action and incidence of Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS) between the two treatment groups.

Main Methods:

• A single-blind, randomized, four-week study protocol was implemented.
• Participants were first-episode, drug-naive patients diagnosed with ATPD.
• Efficacy was assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale.

Main Results:

• Both Risperidone and Haloperidol demonstrated highly significant and comparable overall efficacy at the study's conclusion.
• Risperidone showed a significantly earlier onset of action for both positive and negative symptoms.
• The incidence of Extrapyramidal Symptoms was significantly lower in the Risperidone group compared to the Haloperidol group.

Conclusions:

• Risperidone and Haloperidol are comparably effective in treating ATPD.
• Risperidone offers advantages in early symptom control and reduced EPS, positioning it as a potential first-line treatment for ATPD.