Summary.
Objectives: To evaluate and compare the drug response and side effects of adolescents with schizophrenia treated with olanzapine, risperidone, and haloperidol.
Methods: Forty-three patients were treated with olanzapine (n = 19), risperidone (n = 17) and haloperidol (n = 7) for 8 weeks in an open clinical trial. Clinical improvement was evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and side effects with the Udvalg for Kliniske Undersogelser (UKU) Side Effect Rating Scale.
Results: Significant clinical improvement was observed by week 4 for all medications. Olanzapine and haloperidol induced fatigability more frequently than risperidone. Haloperidol was associated with a higher frequency of depression and more severe extrapyramidal symptoms.
Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge this is the first study in adolescents to compare the efficacy and side effects of three most commonly prescribed antipsychotic medications. Olanzapine, risperidone and haloperidol appear to be equally effective for the treatment of schizophrenia in adolescent inpatients but have different side effect profiles.
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Received June 6, 2002; accepted December 3, 2002 Published online February 19, 2003
Authors' address: Dr. A. Apter, Richard E. Feinberg Department of Psychiatry, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, 14 Kaplan St., P.O.Box 559, Petah Tiqwa 49202, Israel, e-mail: eapter@clalit.org.il
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Gothelf, D., Apter, A., Reidman, J. et al. Olanzapine, risperidone and haloperidol in the treatment of adolescent patients with schizophrenia. J Neural Transm 110, 545–560 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-002-0803-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-002-0803-7