ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: We attempted to investigate clinical efficacy of risperidone a new antipsychotic agent with high safety and without life-threatening side effect such as agranulocytosis, in refractory schizophrenia compared with a haloperidol, well-known antipsychotic agent. METHODS: Thirty-four subjects(risperidone group 16, haloperidol group 18), who had been proved to be refractory schizophrenics with prospective antipsychotic treatment with at least 2 antipsychotic agents belonging to different chemical groups from each other, were examined with Clinical Global Impression(CGI) and 18-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale(BPRS) at 0, 2nd, 4th, 8th, and 12th week from start of drug administration. Those scales were rated in the single-blind manner. RESULTS: End-point response rate of risperidone was 25%(4 subjects), and that of haloperidol was zero. Difference of the response rates between risperidone and haloperidol was statistically significant. Broader spectrum of symptoms was improved with risperidone treatment than with haloperidol. CONCLUSION: Risperidone is an antipsychotic agent that clinicians can primarily and effectively try in the refractory schizophrenics with high safety.