INTRODUCTION: Atypical antipsychotics have proven efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of schizophrenia. While a lot is known about maintenance treatment with atypical antipsychotics, less is known about their role in the management of acute psychotic decompensations. To evaluate the efficacy of the atypical antipsychotic risperidone, we conducted an open-label observational study among admissions to a secure unit. METHOD: Treatment with risperidone was offered to acutely psychotic schizophrenic patients with the requirement of a minimum score of > or =4 on 2 items of the PANSS positive symptoms subscale. Subjects were treated with 4 to 8 mg risperidone in divided doses (mean dose 5.7 +/- 1.5 mg/d). Benzodiazepines and anticholinergics were allowed as co-medications. Clinical Global Impression ratings and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale ratings were obtained weekly for 4 weeks. RESULTS: Forty-eight subjects (25 males, 23 females; mean age 36.9 +/- 13.4 years, range 18 to 68 years) participated in this study. The mean duration of treatment was 13.4 +/- 9.7 days (range 1 to 31 days). Risperidone was well tolerated, and 26 (54%) patients completed the study. Reasons for discontinuation were need of intramuscular antipsychotic medication (8 subjects), switch to a different antipsychotic (11 subjects), side effects (1 subject), and noncompliance (2 subjects). Treatment with risperidone reduced the mean CGI score from 5.9 to 4.8 (P <0.001). Likewise, the total PANSS score improved from 110.9 to 86.0 (P <0.001) with similar reductions in all subscales. DISCUSSION: Our results demonstrate that risperidone is an effective and well-tolerated medication for the pharmacologic management of acutely psychotic schizophrenic subjects.
