Tolerability and effectiveness of atypical antipsychotics in male geriatric inpatients

Background. The atypical antipsychotics are gradually becoming the mainstay of treatment for psychosis in the elderly. The present study examines the effectiveness and tolerability of risperidone and olanzapine treatment in 3 4 matched male patients admitted to a VA Medical Center geriatric inpatient unit. Methods. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for Schizophrenia (PANSS) , the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI), the Rating Scale for Side -Effects, the Extra-Pyramidal Rating Scale, and the Mini-Mental State Exami nation were administered at admission and discharge. Results. T-tests at admission and discharge across groups indicate that the patients as a whole were performing significantly better following their s tay on the CMAI (t(30)=4.31, p=0.000), the GAF (t(31)=9.73, p=0.000), the P ANSS total score (t(29)=3.82, p=0.001), and the positive symptom portion of the PANSS (t(28)=4.29, p=0.000). Conclusions. No significant differences were detected between the two group s with regard to length of hospitalization, or reduction in scores on the P ANSS, or CMAI, however the daily cost of risperidone was 1/3 as much as ola nzapine (p=0.00). The two treatments were comparable in the elderly men eva luated in this study. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.