Citation

Buitelaar JK. J. Child Adolesc. Psychopharmacol. 2000; 10(1): 19-26.

Affiliation

Department of Child Psychiatry and Rudolf Magnus Institute for Neurosciences, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands. J.K.Buitelaar@psych.azu.nl

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Mary Ann Liebert Publishers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10755578

Abstract

Open-label risperidone was administered to 26 subjects (24 boys: 19 with borderline IQ and 5 with mild mental retardation), 10-18 years old, who were hospitalized for treatment of psychiatric disorders associated with aggressive behavior. Risperidone was given in daily doses ranging from 0.5 to 4 mg for periods of 2-12 months. Treatment response was monitored by means of the improvement scale of the CGI and the modified OAS. Extrapyramidal side effects were measured on the ESRS. Fourteen (54%) of 26 subjects had a marked reduction in aggression; 10 subjects had a moderate reduction; two subjects had mild changes; and none worsened. Two subjects had a marked weight gain in the first 8 weeks of treatment. In seven of the 22 children who continued taking risperidone after week 8, tiredness and sedation that necessitated dose reduction emerged between weeks 8 and 16. These results suggest that risperidone may be useful when treating severe aggressive behavior in children and adolescents. Weight gain and sedation can be troublesome side effects.

Language: en