Risperidone as Augmentive Therapy for Depression

Risperidone improved measures of depression and response in patients with treatment-refractory depression, according to a report in Annals of Internal Medicine.
The multicenter trial, sponsored and conducted by the manufacturer, randomized some 268 outpatients with refractory disease either to augmentation therapy with low-dose risperidone or to placebo for 6 weeks.
Hamilton rating scale measures of depression were more improved at 4- and 6-week assessments among those on risperidone than those on placebo. Similarly, rates of remission and the proportion of patients responding to treatment favored risperidone. Patients reported better overall life satisfaction on the drug. Complications included dry mouth and somnolence.
The journal's editors point to the trial's brevity, but conclude, with the study authors, that augmentation with risperidone was associated with improvements in some patients. (The authors calculate an NNT of 7 to achieve a remission.)