Some behavioural effects of risperidone in rats: comparison with haloperidol

Risperidone is a dopaminergic as well as a 5-HT2 antagonist. The drug was f ound to exert beneficial effects on both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Since recently, schizophrenia is regarded as a composite of not only positive and negative but also affective and cognitive symptoms, i n this study the effects of risperidone compared with typical neuroleptic h aloperidol on affective and cognitive functions were investigated in rats ( anxiolytic, antidepressive and memory tests). We found, that in contrast to haloperidol risperidone had antidepressive, anxiolytic and memory enhancin g effects. The results obtained correspond with favourable effects of rispe ridone on mood disturbances and cognitive functions of schizophrenic patien ts observed under clinical conditions. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All r ights reserved.