BMJ 1994;308:1311-2 (21 May)

Editorials

Risperidone for schizophrenia

Risperidone is a benzisoxazole derivative that was heralded as a major breakthrough in the treatment of schizophrenia on its British launch last year. To what extent does research published in peer reviewed journals support this claim?

How antipsychotic drugs work is not fully understood. Although their ability to block dopamine receptors is important, a substantial proportion of patients respond poorly to neuroleptics - especially those with "negative symptoms" such as apathy and social withdrawal - so theremust be more to the pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia than just an effect on dopaminergic transmission. Other neurotransmitters - for example, 5-hydroxytryptamine possibly acting at 5HT2 receptors, could be involved: in support of this are the antipsychotic properties of clozapine, which has a greater affinity for 5HT2 receptors than dopamine 2 receptors, and the apparent beneficial effect of add on treatment with the potent 5HT2 receptor blocker ritanserin.1

Risperidone blocks catecholamine receptors . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Agranulocytosis and clozapine
V J Dev, T Rosenberg, and P Krupp
BMJ 1994 309: 54. [Extract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Wooltorton, E. (2002). Risperidone (Risperdal): increased rate of cerebrovascular events in dementia trials. CMAJ 167: 1269-1270 [Full text]  
  • Fujian Song, (1997). Risperidone in the treatment of schizophrenia: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Psychopharmacol 11: 65-71 [Abstract]  
  • Dev, V J, Rosenberg, T, Krupp, P (1994). Agranulocytosis and clozapine. BMJ 309: 54b-54 [Full text]  
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