Clinical response to risperidone in relation to plasma drug concentrations in acutely exacerbated schizophrenic patients

There are no data indicating a clear relationship between the clinical effect of risperidone and plasma drug concentration. In this study, 51 patients with acutely exacerbated schizophrenia received 6 mg risperidone/day for 4 weeks. A clinical evaluation using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Udvalg for Klinicke Undersøgelser (UKU) side effect rating scale were performed at baseline and each week. Significant (P < 0.05) correlations were found between plasma concentrations of risperidone and improved total BPRS scores, positive and cognitive symptoms. Plasma concentrations of the active moiety were significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with improved total BPRS scores. Improved score and percent improvement in anxiety-depression subscale were significantly (P < 0.01) correlated with plasma concentrations of the active moiety. The sum of total UKU side effect scores from 1 to 4 weeks was significantly correlated with plasma concentration of both risperidone (rs = 0.319, P < 0.05) and active moiety (rs = 0.373, P < 0.01). The sum of the psychic subgroup scores was significantly correlated with plasma concentrations of active moiety (rs = 0.318, P < 0.05). Results suggest that plasma drug concentrations are, to some extent, associated with improved scores in some psychopathological schizophrenic symptoms and sedative side effects. These findings should be replicated with a larger patient sample.