Oj. Hoyberg et al., RISPERIDONE VERSUS PERPHENAZINE IN THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC-SCHIZOPHRENIC PATIENTS WITH ACUTE EXACERBATIONS, Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica, 88(6), 1993, pp. 395-402
Risperidone (RIS), a new neuroleptic with 5-HT2- and dopamine D2 recep
tor-blocking properties, was compared with perphenazine (PER) in a dou
ble-blind, multicentre, parallel-group study in 107 chronic schizophre
nics with acute exacerbation. RIS 5-15 mg or PER 16-48 mg daily was gi
ven for 8 weeks. Psychopathology was assessed with the Positive and Ne
gative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Clinical Global Impression. Seventy-
eight patients completed the trial; there was an equal number of dropo
uts on both drugs. The mean daily dose at endpoint was 8.5 mg RIS and
28 mg PER. The reduction in total PANSS score to endpoint did not diff
er significantly, although there was a tendency in favour of RIS. The
number of patients with predominantly negative symptoms who showed at
least 20% reduction in total PANSS score was significantly larger in t
he RIS group. Furthermore, the number of patients showing at least 20%
reduction in Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) score (BPRS being
a subscale of PANSS) was significantly larger in the RIS group. The ho
stility cluster of BPRS improved more on RIS than on PER in the endpoi
nt analysis. The overall prevalence of side effects was fairly similar
in the two groups.