Buspirone vs haloperidol - A double-blind trial for agitation in a nursing home population with Alzheimer's disease

The authors report on a pilot double-blind comparison of buspirone with haloperidol in the treatment of agitation manifested by physical tension and motor activity in Alzheimer's disease (AD). A group of 26 nursing home residents underwent a 10-week comparison of 15 mg buspirone (n = 12) vs. 1.5 mg haloperidol (n = 14) per day. Tension and anxiety decreased to a greater extent in those patients who were treated with buspirone. Although it is not possible to draw definitive conclusions from a treatment study that does not include a placebo group, these findings suggest the potential value of further clinical research on buspirone in managing agitation in AD.