Project Summary

Chadi A. Calarge, M.D. (Young Investigator 2007) of the University of Iowa, plans to do a 2-year follow-up study on metabolic and hormonal abnormalities in children who were treated with risperidone. This drug, used to reduce aggression in children and adolescents, has been implicated in weight gain, elevated blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglycerides, and hormonal abnormalities. Dr. Calarge hypothesizes 1) that treatment with risperidone will be associated with continuing increase in the rate of overweight/obesity, metabolic abnormalities, and hyperprolactinemia, 2) that hyperprolactinemia will be associated with reduced bone mineral density (BMD), and 3) that prolactin levels will normalize and weight/metabolic abnormalities will improve following discontinuation of risperidone. Extreme weight gain or abnormal bone growth during development could have long-lasting consequences. As a result, it is important to study the safety of this effective medication in children and adolescents.

Program Area: OTHER\Aggressive Behavior\Impulsive Behavior

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