Risperidone in adolescents with schizophrenia: an open pilot study

To assess critically the short-term efficacy and safety of risperidone in adolescents with schizophrenia.

Subjects were adolescents who were attending a research day hospital as outpatients and who had received a diagnosis of schizophrenia. This was an open pilot study; after a 2-week washout period during which all psychotropic medications were gradually discontinued, subjects were treated with risperidone for 6 weeks. Dosage was regulated individually over a period of 3 weeks; starting dose was 2.0 mg/day followed by 1.0-mg increments every 2 days; maximum dose was not to exceed 10 mg/day. The main outcome measures included the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale of Schizophrenia, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, and the Clinical Global Impression.

Ten adolescents between 11 and 18 years of age were enrolled in the study. Risperidone produced clinically and statistically significant improvement on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for Schizophrenia. Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, and Clinical Global Impression at doses ranging from 4.0 mg/day to 10.0 mg/day (mean = 6.6). There were no major adverse reactions associated with risperidone use.

Risperidone appears to have been effective and well tolerated in this sample of adolescents with schizophrenia.