ABSTRACT
Risperidone is a serotonin-dopamine receptor antagonist, approved for the treatment of psychotic disorders. The possibility of decreased risk of tardive dyskinesia should make risperidone attractive to psychiatrists and other physicians treating patients on an antipsychotic. The only other antipsychotics currently available in the United States with decreased risk of tardive dyskinesia, low extrapyramidal symptoms, and effectiveness for negative and positive symptoms are olanzapine and clozapine. Clozapine may be considered for treatment of various chronic and severe treatment-refractory and dysfunctional conditions which would benefit from long-term maintenance on an antipsychotic. Clozapine can be successfully employed in the treatment of patients with parkinsonism accompanied by psychotic symptoms. Clozapine is a superior medication for the treatment of a variety of chronic psychotic conditions and selected chronic severe mental disorders. Sertindole is comparable to olanzapine, though olanzapine has an extrapyramidal symptoms risk that is slightly greater than that of sertindole.
