AGGRESSION AND SCHIZOPHRENIA - EFFICACY OF RISPERIDONE

The advent of novel antipsychotic medications has raised treatment exp ectations for patients with severe mental illness, In this regard, clo zapine has been particularly effective in reducing aggressive behavior in patients with schizophrenia, This study compared the efficacy of r isperidone and conventional antipsychotic medications in the managemen t of hostile patients, Improvements in the level of aggression were ev ident over time in both treatment groups, and a similar response betwe en risperidone and typical antipsychotics was observed, Future studies should address the relative role of typical antipsychotics, adjunctiv e agents, and novel antipsychotic medications in the pharmacological m anagement of persistent aggression in patients with schizophrenia.