Treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients.

Despite the proven efficacy of antipsychotic medication in the treatment of schizophrenia, a substantial proportion of patients derive little if any benefit from traditional medications. Though alternative strategies (e.g., increasing dosage, switching antipsychotic, or adding adjunctive medication) are frequently employed, success rates are often disappointing. Clozapine has shown to be effective in some poor or partially responsive patients in three prospective, random assignment, double-blind trials. Risperidone has not yet been extensively studied in treatment-resistant patients, but may also be a useful alternative.