Risperidone is a atypical antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and irritability associated with autism.
Second-generation antipsychotics, including risperidone, are effective in the treatment of manic symptoms in acute manic or mixed exacerbations of bipolar disorder.
Compared to placebo, risperidone treatment reduces certain problematic behaviors in autistic children, including aggression toward others, self injury, challenging behavior and rapid mood changes. The evidence for its efficacy appears to be greater than that for alternative pharmacological treatments.