The patients were given olanzapine (Zyprexa) or risperidone (Risperdal) or older conventional antipsychotic molindone (Moban) plus benztropine on a random basis. After eight weeks it was found that 50% of the kids taking the older drugs improved, while 46 percent taking risperidone improved, and 34 percent taking olanzapine improved.
"Schizophrenia and schizophrenia-related disorders are rare in childhood. But when they do occur, those afflicted generally have more severe symptoms and a worse prognosis than those who develop the disorder in adulthood," said NIMH Director Thomas R. Insel, M.D. "The newer atypical antipsychotics are often used to treat these children, but until now, it has been unclear how effective and safe they really are in children. The side effects of the newer medications should be factored into making treatment decisions."
The details appear in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Source: Medindia
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