Reply to "Recommended Haloperidol and Risperidone Doses in First-Episode Psychosis"

Abstract

Replies to comments made by P. D. McGorry (see record 1999-15125-016) regarding the current author's previous article (see record 1998-11812-002) examining haloperidol and risperidone doses in 1st episode psychosis. It is stated that the doses of haloperidol (6-10 mg/day) and risperidone (4-8 mg/day) recommended in the original article are in keeping with the author's clinical experience and are in a range that the vast majority of patients will need to receive to obtain maximum benefit after months of slow medication titration. Secondly, the reference that McGorry cites supporting the use of very low doses of haloperidol was not cited in the original study. DeQuardo emphasizes several messages put forth in the original article, namely, that early intervention in 1st-episode psychosis is crucial and involves low doses of antipsychotic medication, both typical and atypical with very slow titration and documentation of clinical benefit as well as toxicity. He argues that minimizing extrapyramidal symptoms and other side effects related to pharmacologic treatment is vital in enhancing patient compliance and quality of life. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved).