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Comparison of long-term efficacy and safety of risperidone and haloperidol in children and adolescents with autistic disorder

An open label maintenance study

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Abstract

Background

The aim of the study was to investigate safety, efficacy and tolerability of risperidone in comparison with haloperidol in the long-term treatment of autistic disorder.

Methods

This was an open-label continuation study of the randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of risperidone and haloperidol study for 12 week in autistic children and adolescents. A total of 28 subjects between 8 and 18 ages with autistic disorder were enrolled to the open label phase of the study. Behavioral rating scales (Clinical Global Impression Scale [CGI-I], Ritvo-Freeman Real Life Rating Scale [RF-RLRS]), Aberrant Behavior Checklist [ABC], Turgay DSM-IV Pervasive Developmental Disorder Rating Scale [TPDDRS]) and safety assessment scales (Extrapyramidal Symptoms Rating Scale [ESRS], UKU-Side Effect Rating Scale) were performed at 12, 16, 20 and 24 weeks, following the 12 week double-blind phase. Risperidone and haloperidol treatments were applied with a once daily dosage regimen as 0.01–0.08 mg/kg/day.

Results

Risperidone led to a significant greater reduction on CGI scale. There was significant improvement on RF-RLRS sensory motor and language subscale and ABC scores in risperidone group. Weight gain was observed more frequently in the haloperidol group at week 24.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that risperidone is more efficacious and well tolerated than haloperidol in the long-term maintenance treatment of autistic disorder.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, 35340, Narlidere, Izmir, Turkey

    Ozlem Gencer MD, F. Neslihan Inal Emiroglu MD, Suha Miral MD, Burak Baykara MD & Aysen Baykara MD

  2. Department of Child Neurology, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Narlidere, Izmir, Turkey

    Eray Dirik MD

Authors
  1. Ozlem Gencer MD
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  2. F. Neslihan Inal Emiroglu MD
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  3. Suha Miral MD
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  4. Burak Baykara MD
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  5. Aysen Baykara MD
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Correspondence to Ozlem Gencer MD.

Additional information

This research was supported in part by Janssen and Cilag Drug Company and presented as poster presentation in 60th Annual Meeting of the Society of Biological Psychiatry. May 19–21, 2005, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

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Gencer, O., Emiroglu, F.N.I., Miral, S. et al. Comparison of long-term efficacy and safety of risperidone and haloperidol in children and adolescents with autistic disorder. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 17, 217–225 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-007-0656-6

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