Effects of risperidone on cognitive-motor performance and motor movements in chronically medicated children.
For kids already on risperidone, staying on it beats placebo for speed, stillness, and parent-rated behavior, but watch weight and pulse.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Researchers ran a crossover trial with kids who were already taking risperidone. Each child stayed on the drug for one period and switched to placebo for another.
The team measured how fast the kids hit computer keys, how much they moved in their seats, and how parents rated conduct problems.
What they found
Kids on risperidone hit keys faster, sat stiller, and had fewer parent-rated hyperactive spells than when they were on placebo.
The gains were medium-sized, but the drug also raised heart rate and weight.
How this fits with other research
Eisenhower et al. (2006) saw similar benefit two years earlier. Their crossover in mixed-age participants found low-dose risperidone cut irritability in half for about half the group.
Lennox et al. (2005) looks like it disagrees. Their review said evidence for risperidone in intellectual disability was "questionable." The gap is timing: the review came before newer RCTs like this one supplied clearer positive data.
Crossman et al. (2018) shows the contrast with a different drug. Their crossover trial of riluzole for autism irritability found no benefit, underlining that risperidone still has the stronger track record for this symptom cluster.
Why it matters
If you work with children who are already prescribed risperidone, this study gives you objective data to share with families. You can point to faster response times and less seat movement as likely benefits of staying on the medication, while also monitoring weight and heart rate. Use these findings in collaboration with the prescribing physician—your behavioral data can help confirm or question the drug’s ongoing value.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
This study was designed to explore the placebo-controlled effects of risperidone on cognitive-motor processes, dyskinetic movements, and behavior in children receiving maintenance risperidone therapy. Sixteen children aged 4-14 years with disruptive behavior were randomly assigned to drug order in a crossover study of risperidone and placebo for 2 weeks each. Dependent measures included tests of sustained attention, memory, visual matching, tremor, seat activity, abnormal movements, and parent behavior ratings. Results were compared by repeated measures ANOVA. Fourteen boys and 2 girls with disruptive behavior and IQ</=84 all completed the protocol. Risperidone was superior to placebo on response time (p=0.01, eta(P)(2)=0.43) and seat movement (p<0.05, eta(P)(2)=0.29) on a short-term memory task, and on a measure of static tremor (p=0.05, eta(P)(2)=0.28). There was not a significant difference between treatment conditions on the Abnormal Involuntary Movement scale. Risperidone was superior to placebo on three subscales of the Nisonger Child Behavior Rating Form [Overly Sensitive (p<0.01, eta(P)(2)=0.44), Conduct Problem (p=0.02, eta(P)(2)=0.36), Hyperactivity (p=0.03, eta(P)(2)=0.32)] and on the Hyperactivity/Noncompliance subscale of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (p=0.01, eta(P)(2)=0.41). Significant increases in heart rate (p=0.05, eta(P)(2)=0.27) and weight (p=0.02, eta(P)(2)=0.36) occurred in the risperidone condition. The findings suggest a beneficial effect of risperidone after several months of treatment on efficiency of responding, activity level, static tremor, and aspects of behavior.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2009 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2008.07.004