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An open study of risperidone liquid in the acute phase of schizophrenia
Author(s) -
Yoshimura Reiji,
Nakamura Jun,
Shinkai Koji,
Goto Makiko,
Yamada Yasuhisa,
Kaji Kyoko,
Kakihara Shingo,
Ueda Nobuhisa,
Kohara Kimio,
Ninomiya Hideaki,
Egami Hideaki,
Maeda Hisao
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/hup.685
Subject(s) - risperidone , positive and negative syndrome scale , lorazepam , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , psychology , medicine , haloperidol , psychiatry , psychosis , dopamine
An open‐label study was performed to investigate the clinical efficacy and mechanisms of risperidone liquid in ameliorating positive symptoms in the acute phase of schizophrenia. Eighty‐eight patients (M/F: 50/38; age: 18–74 years;, mean±SD =32±16 years) meeting DSM‐IV criteria for schizophrenia and treated with risperidone liquid (14 patients also used lorazepam) were evaluated with regard to their clinical improvement and extrapyramidal side effects using the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) and the Simpson and Angus scale (SAS), while plasma concentrations of HVA and MHPG were analysed by HPLC‐ECD before and 4 weeks after risperidone liquid administration. Patients showing a 50% or greater improvement in PANSS scores were defined as responders. An improvement in the PANSS scores related to excitement, hostility and poor impulse control was seen within 7 days after administration of risperidone liquid, and an improvement with regard to hallucinatory behaviour and uncooperativeness was seen within 14 days after its administration. Finally, 68% of patients were classified as responders 4 weeks after risperidone liquid administration. The scores of SAS were not changed after risperidone liquid administration. Pretreatment plasma homovanillic acid (HVA) levels in the responders (8.1±2.9 ng/ml) were higher than those in nonresponders (5.9±1.9 ng/ml). In addition, a negative correlation was seen between the changes in plasma HVA levels and the percentage of improvement in PANSS scores. On the other hand, there were no differences between pretreatment plasma 3‐methoxy‐4‐hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) levels and those of nonresponders. These results suggest that risperidone liquid is effective and well tolerated for the treatment of acute phase schizophrenic patients, and that efficacy is related to its affects on dopaminergic activity, not noradrenergic activity. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.