Aggression and schizophrenia: efficacy of risperidone.

The advent of novel antipsychotic medications has raised treatment expectations for patients with severe mental illness. In this regard, clozapine has been particularly effective in reducing aggressive behavior in patients with schizophrenia. This study compared the efficacy of risperidone and conventional antipsychotic medications in the management of hostile patients. Improvements in the level of aggression were evident over time in both treatment groups, and a similar response between risperidone and typical antipsychotics was observed. Future studies should address the relative role of typical antipsychotics, adjunctive agents, and novel antipsychotic medications in the pharmacological management of persistent aggression in patients with schizophrenia.