REEMERGENCE OF POSITIVE SYMPTOMS AFTER INITIAL RESPONSE TO RISPERIDONE

Risperidone was effective in successfully treating a patient's negativ e symptoms of schizophrenia as well as reducing adverse effects from t ypical antipsychotic drugs. Auditory hallucinations reemerged after 8 months, however, and again after 24 months of risperidone therapy. Ree mergence of psychotic symptoms after initial response might be explain ed by inadequate dosage, by the natural course of the patient's schizo phrenia independent of drug therapy, or by the possibility that, for t his patient, risperidone was less effective than chlorpromazine for th e positive symptom of auditory hallucinations.