Inclusion Daily Express -- Study: Fake Pills Are Better Than Anti-Psychotic Drugs For Aggression, In Some

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Study: Fake Pills Are Better Than Anti-Psychotic Drugs For Aggression, In Some
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
January 4, 2008

LONDON, ENGLAND--Doctors should stop prescribing some medications that are being used to change behaviors in people with intellectual disabilities, according to a research published in this week's The Lancet.

In what is reported as the first study performed without funding from the pharmaceutical industry, the researchers found that fake pills with no medication, called placebos, were more effective in reducing aggressive behavior in people with IQs below 75 than either haloperidol or risperidone.

Haloperidol is an antipsychotic drug sold in the U.S. under the name Haldol, while risperidone is marketed as Risperdal.

The researchers studied 86 non-psychotic patients with aggressive behavior and intellectual disabilities in England, Wales and Australia. Roughly one-third received haloperidol, one-third received risperidone and one-third received a fake pill. None of the subjects or their caregivers were told which they received.

After four weeks, there was a 65 percent decrease in aggressive behavior in those on haloperidol, and a 58 percent decrease in those on risperidone.

For those on the placebos, however, there was a 79 percent decrease.

The authors of the study noted that such antipsychotic drugs are prescribed to up to 45 percent of people with intellectual disabilities in institutions, and about 20 percent of those in the community -- despite little evidence to support their use.

"Our study shows that either the placebo effect, the psychological effect of a formal external intervention, or spontaneous resolution, or all three, are substantial and would be difficult to surpass by even the most effective of drugs."

They also noted that these medications can cause severe side effects, especially if taken over a long period of time.

Related:
"Risperidone, haloperidol, and placebo in the treatment of aggressive challenging behaviour in patients with intellectual disability: a randomised controlled trial" (The Lancet)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/2008/red/0104a.htm
"Antipsychotics No Better than Placebo for Aggression in the Intellectually Disabled" (MedPage Today)
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Psychiatry/GeneralPsychiatry/tb/7849

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