Risperidone, an antipsychotic agent with combined serotonin (5-HT2A) and dopamine (D2) receptor-blocking properties, is associated with fewer extrapyramidal side effects in adults than conventional neuroleptics. Approved in 1993 for the treatment of schizophrenia, recent studies have highlighted its potential in other conditions, such as the management of behavioral disturbances. This phase II, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of risperidone in the treatment of persistent behavioral disturbances in children with borderline intellectual functioning. Thirteen patients (6-14 years) with low IQ (66-85) were enrolled in and completed the 4-week study. Risperidone, in daily doses of > or = 0.01 mg/kg (mean dose at treatment endpoint = 0.05 mg/kg; mean total dose = 1.2 mg/day), was significantly more effective than placebo in improving Aberrant Behavioral Checklist (ABC) symptom cluster scores for irritation (p < 0.05) and hyperactivity (p < 0.01), Clinical Global Impression score (p < 0.05), the Visual Analogue Scale score for individual target symptom (p < 0.001), and Personal Assessment Checklist scores for social relationships (p < 0.05) and occupational attitudes (p < 0.05). In addition, the improvement in total ABC score in the risperidone-treated group was clinically relevant (65% improvement vs. baseline), whereas the placebo-treated patients only improved 7% versus baseline. There was no difference between risperidone- and placebo-treated groups with respect to the occurrence of extrapyramidal side effects, and risperidone was well tolerated. In conclusion, short-term risperidone treatment was well tolerated and significantly more effective than placebo in controlling behavioral disturbances in children with low IQ.

Objective: This meta-analysis assesses cognitive functioning in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia post-treatment who were treated with either chemotherapyonly (CT-only) or in combination with radiation therapy (CTRT). Methods:The databases Pubmed and PsychInfo were searched between 1-1-2000 and 31-12-2021. Data were analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (version 2).Results: Mean weighted intelligence after treatment was 100.2 (number of studies n = 51, 95% CI: 98.8-101.5). For CT-only, it was 100.8 (95% CI: 99.5-102.2) and for CTRT 97.8 (95% CI: 95.9-100.2). Compared to recruited healthy controls, treated children had on average lower IQ scores (n = 23, mean difference −7.8, 95% CI: −10.7 to −5.0, p < 0.001). When looking only at studies using controls recruited from the patient's family, results remained significant (n = 5, mean difference −6.0, 95% CI: −8.6 to −3.5, p = 0.001). Meta-regressions aimed at identifying predictors of IQ after treatment failed to find an effect for sex or age. We could demonstrate an effect of time between diagnosis and IQ measurement for the CTRT treated patient (B = −0.26, 95% CI: −0.40 to −0.1, p = 0.002).Conclusions: IQ scores of patients treated with CT-only or CTRT treatment regimens did not differ from the normative population. However, compared to recruited control groups, patients showed lower mean IQ scores. The Flynn effect and/or selection effects may play a role in this discrepancy. Considering time since diagnosis may have a significant impact on IQ, at least in CTRT treated patients, longterm clinical follow-up of neurocognitive development may be prudent to detect possible (late) neurocognitive effects.