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The efficacy of the atypical antipsychotic risperidone was evaluated in the treatment of aberrant behavior (e.g., aggression, self-injury) in 20 individuals with developmental disabilities. The study, a double-blind crossover design, identified 50 percent of participants as responders. Naturalistic observations of five participants showed that risperidone was effective in reducing aberrant behavior in four individuals. (Contains references.) (Author/DB)

Functional analyses were conducted during a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the atypical antipsychotic medication risperidone with 13 individuals. Risperidone was effective in reducing destructive behavior (compared to placebo) for 10 participants. For 7 of these responders, an undifferentiated pattern of responding occurred across their baseline functional analysis conditions (i.e., a similar rate of responding across conditions), and risperidone treatment produced nonspecific reductions of their destructive behavior across functional analysis conditions. For the remaining 3 responders, a differentiated pattern of responding occurred across their baseline functional analysis conditions (i.e., an elevated rate of responding occurred in a specific condition), and risperidone treatment produced function-specific reductions of their destructive behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]