RISPERIDONE - TREATMENT RESPONSE IN ADULT AND GERIATRIC-PATIENTS

Objective: To compare the efficacy and side effects of risperidone in younger adult and geriatric patients. Methods: Open retrospective stud y of 102 consecutive intakes, prescribed risperidone, by a mental heal th team. All patients were non-hospitalized community residents. Prior to initiation of risperidone, and at termination of study period, Cli nical Global Impression (CGI) scores were used to track progress. Vari ables monitored were: concurrent use of other antipsychotics, complian ce, side effects, and maintenance dosage. Results: The most common DSM -IV diagnoses were schizophrenia in the younger adult group and late o nset delusional disorders in the geriatric group. Compliance was good for both groups. The geriatric group demonstrated a greater treatment response which was reached at a significantly lower dosage. There was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of side effe cts. Examination of response by diagnostic category indicated that ger iatric patients with late onset delusional disorder showed the best re sponse while adults with either schizophrenia or affective syndromes a lso showed positive response. Conclusions: Risperidone, at lower than recommended doses, shows promise in the treatment of late onset delusi onal disorders and behavior syndromes of dementia. The side effect pro file was benign, as was suggested by experience in treating schizophre nia. Scientifically more rigorous prospective studies for the indicati ons and efficacy of risperidone in late onset psychotic disorders and psychoses and behavior syndromes associated with dementing illness are overdue.