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Ethnic variation in symptoms and response to risperidone in youths with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders

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Abstract

Background

Evaluation of symptom presentation and antipsychotic response based on ethnicity in children and adolescents with schizophrenia is limited. The purpose of this naturalistic, retrospective database study was to compare symptom presentation of children and adolescents of different ethnicities with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, and response to risperidone.

Method

African-American (n = 38), Caucasian (n = 30), or Hispanic (n = 37) youths started on risperidone were eligible. Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) total, internalizing, and externalizing scores were evaluated at baseline, 90 days, 1 year, and 2 year intervals.

Results

At baseline, Hispanic patients had lower CBCL externalizing scores than African-Americans or Caucasians. African-Americans showed significant differences in CBCL total, internalizing, and externalizing scores at 90 days compared to baseline. Hispanics showed improvement in CBCL internalizing scores over the 2 year period. No significant improvements were observed in Caucasians. African-American patients had significantly lower CBCL total at 90 days compared to Hispanic patients. No significant difference existed in 2 year hospitalization rates between groups.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that ethnicity may play a role in symptom presentation and treatment response to risperidone for children and adolescents with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Future studies in children and adolescents are necessary to examine ethnospecific differences in antipsychotic use and treatment response.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Cincinnati, 3225 Eden Avenue, PO Box 670004, Cincinnati, OH, 45267-0004, USA

    Nick C. Patel

  2. The University of Texas at Austin, Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, Texas, USA

    M. Lynn Crismon & Molly Lopez

  3. Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Austin, Texas, USA

    Alan Shafer

  4. The University of Texas at Austin, Texas, USA

    Anthony De Leon & Daniel C. Lane

Authors
  1. Nick C. Patel
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  2. M. Lynn Crismon
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  3. Alan Shafer
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  4. Anthony De Leon
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  5. Molly Lopez
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  6. Daniel C. Lane
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nick C. Patel.

Additional information

Location of work: College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, TX; Austin State Hospital, Austin, TX; and, Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, TX.

Supported in part by a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Fellowship sponsored by NIMH (N. Patel) and the Texas Department of State Health Services.

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Patel, N.C., Crismon, M.L., Shafer, A. et al. Ethnic variation in symptoms and response to risperidone in youths with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 41, 341–346 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0036-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0036-4

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