Effects of typical antipsychotic drugs and risperidone on the quality of sleep in patients with schizophrenia: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of a newer antipsychotic drug, risperidone (a potent serotonin 5-HT2A/2C and dopamine D2-receptor blocker), on the quantity and quality of sleep in patients with schizophrenia.

DESIGN

Prospective pilot study.

SETTING

Outpatient treatment at a mental health hospital.

PATIENTS

Two groups of age- and sex-matched patients with schizophrenia receiving either risperidone (n = 8) or a typical antipsychotic drug (n = 8), and a group of age- and sex-matched controls (n = 8).

OUTCOME MEASURES

Sleep quality, measured by a visual analogue scale, and sleep continuity, measured using a movement index calculated from actigraph data.

RESULTS

Patients with schizophrenia had more disturbed sleep than controls. Compared with patients treated with typical antipsychotic drugs, patients treated with risperidone reported significantly better sleep quantity and quality as well as general functioning.

CONCLUSION

Improvement by risperidone may be related to 5-HT2A/2C receptor blockade; however, further controlled studies are required to confirm these results.