Clinical evaluation of risperidone in Asian patients with schizophrenia in Singapore
Chong, S.A.; Yap, H.L.; Low, B.L.; Choo, C.H.; Chan, A.O.; Wong, K.E.; Mahendran, R.; Chee, K.T.
Singapore Medical Journal 40(1): 41-43
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-5675 PMID: 10361485 Document Number: 498975
Objective: To evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of risperidone in a group of Asian patients with schizophrenia in an 8-week open-label, prospective study. Methods: Patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia were recruited from Woodbridge Hospital. After a washout period, they were started on a 56-day trial of risperidone. Outcome was assessed with the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS), the clinical global impression scale (CGI) and the extrapyramidal symptom rating scale (ESRS). Results: The mean daily risperidone dose at end point was 5.6 mg (range, 3 to 8 mg/day). Mean PANSS scores were reduced significantly from 78 +- 15.1 at baseline to 56.6 +- 10.9 at end point. Seventeen patients (85%) who were treatment responders, showed at least a 20% reduction in total PANSS scores at end point while nine patients (45%) had a greater than 50% reduction in the total PANSS scores. According to the CGI scale, 85% improved at end point. The severity of extrapyramidal symptoms (mean ESRS scores) were significantly lower at end point than at baseline. Conclusions: Risperidone was effective in the treatment of positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.