Objectives:This study was performed in order to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of Risperidone comparing with typical antipsychotics to chronic schizophrenic patients, who are under the psychosocial rehabilitation program in the inpatient unit.
Methods:Fifty patients suffering from chronic schizophrenia were randomly assigned to Risperidone (n=25) or typical antipsychotics (n=25) for 28 weeks. Patients’ psychopathology was assessed by Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). The assessment of side effects was made by Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale (ESRS). We also examined the effects of Risperidone and typical antipsychotics on 13 measures of neurocognitive functioning, ward behavior (NOSIE), Work Behavior Inventory (WBI), Quality of life, and computerized Emotion Recognition Test in a double-blind.
Results:The mean differences between two groups in baseline were not significantly different on BPRS and ESRS scores. Both groups showed reduction of scores at the endpoint compared to the baseline. Compared with control group, Risperidone treatment group showed a significant beneficial effect on several cognitive function such as verbal working memory, attention, and verbal fluency, ward behavior such as irritability, retardation, and emotional information processing like emotion context and emotional ability.
Conclusion:The results of this study indicate that the treatment with Risperidone for patients with chronic schizophrenia appears to exert a more favorable effects on cognitive function, ward behavior and emotional ability than the treatment with typical antipsychotics. But the effects of Risperidone on psychosocial rehabilitation outcomes such as social, vocational functioning and quality of life were limited. We hope that future research will examine further relations of these effects to underlying mechanisms and functional outcomes in patients with chronic schizophrenia. (Schizophrenia Clinics 2004;7:35-47) |
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