COMPARATIVE STUDY OF RISPERIDONE AND HALOPERIDOL ON CLINICAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL PARAMETERS IN TREATMENT OF SCHIZOPHRENIA : A RANDOMISED OPEN TRIAL

The study compares the efficacy of risperidone and haloperidol in patients of schizophrenia on various clinical and psychosocial parameters. In the present open, comparative study, in patients suffering from schizophrenia (DSM-IV), 50 patients each were randomly treated with risperidone and haloperidol over a period of 1 year. The clinical improvement was judged on PANSS (Positive and Negative Symptom Scale) and CGIS (Clinical Global Impression Scale). The improvement in psychosocial functioning and other areas was judged using a five point scale (0-4). Though the improvement on PANSS was comparable in both the groups except on the general psychopathology subscale, on CGIS a better improvement profile was observed in risperidone group. In the other psychosocial areas such as social functioning, productivity and education a significantly more number of patients showed improvement in risperidone group as compared to haloperidol group. In significantly less number of patients suicidality and rehospitalization was found in risperidone group as compared to haloperidol group.