A double-blind randomized trial between risperidone and haloperidol in drug-naive patients with paranoid schizophrenia

BACKGROUND: Haloperidol is highly effective against the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, but is less effective against the negative symptoms. It also produces marked extrapyramidal symptoms. The newer atypical antipsychotics are believed to have an equal efficacy with a favourable side-effect profile. AIM: We assessed the effects of risperidone and haloperidol in patients with schizophrenia to compare their clinical efficacy and side-effect profile. METHODS: A double-blind, randomized, prospective, comparative trial with a parallel treatment design of 6 weeks' duration was undertaken on 46 drug-naive schizophrenics to compare the efficacy and adverse effects profile of risperidone and haloperidol. RESULTS: The study showed no difference in the positive and negative subscale scales on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). However, risperidone was found to have an edge over haloperidol in improving the general psychopathology as well as in bringing about global improvement. CONCLUSION: Of the two drugs, the adverse effect profile of risperidone is better, with less need for the use of antiparkinsonian medication.