New York: Antipsychotic drugs are not effective for treating aggressive behavior in patients with low IQs, according to a new study. Researchers pointed out that the two drugs; Johnson & Johnson’s Risperdal, and Novartis AG’s Haloperidol, failed in comparison to benefits offered by placebos. The study is based on tests of 86 non psychotic patients in England, Wales and Australia.

The study participants were observed for more than a month. It was found that those on placebos showed 79 percent fall in aggressive behavior, while those on antipsychotic drugs had shown only 65 percent reduction.

Antipsychotic drugs are developed to treat schizophrenia. These drugs are used to treat people showing aggressive outbursts linked with the attention-deficit problems, Alzheimer’s disease and depression.

Peter Tyrer, Professor of Community Psychiatry Division of Neurosciences and Mental Health at London's Imperial College said, “The routine prescription of antipsychotic drugs early in the management of aggressive challenging behavior, even in low doses, should no longer be regarded as a satisfactory form of care.”

Antipsychotic drugs are given to around 200,000 patients with intellectual disability in England as per reports. The study has been published in the journal Lancet.