OBJECTIVE： To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of risperidone versus haloperidol in the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia （BPSD）， and to provide evidence-based reference for clinical drug use. METHODS： Cochrane library， PubMed， EMbase， CNKI， CBM， Wanfang and VIP database were searched for the randomized controlled trials （RCT） on risperidone （trial group） versus haloperidol （control group） in the treatment of BPSD. After literature screening， data extraction and quality evaluation with Cochrane system evaluator manual 5.1.0， Meta-analysis was performed by using Rev Man 5.3 software. RESULTS： A total of 26 studies were included， involving 2 219 patients. The results of Meta-analysis showed that the total response rate [RR＝1.11， 95％CI（1.05， 1.18）， P＝0.000 3] and CMAI score [SMD＝0.19， 95％CI（0.04， 0.34）， P＝0.01] in trial group were significantly higher than control group. MMSE score [SMD＝－0.32， 95％CI（－0.63， －0.01）， P＝0.04]， and the incidence of extrapyramidal reaction [RR＝0.39， 95％CI（0.31， 0.49）， P＜0.000 1]， gastrointestinal reaction [RR＝0.51， 95％CI（0.38， 0.68）， P＜0.000 1]， somnolence [RR＝0.47， 95％CI （0.25， 0.88）， P＝0.02]， thirst [RR＝0.50， 95％CI（0.33， 0.74）， P＝0.000 5] and constipation [RR＝0.33， 95％CI（0.20， 0.54）， P＜0.000 1] in trial group were significantly lower than control group. There were no statistical significance in BEHAVE-AD score [SMD＝0.03， 95％CI（－0.09，0.16）， P＝0.62] and the incidence of insomnia [RR＝1.26， 95％CI（0.76， 2.11）， P＝0.37]， headache/dizziness [RR＝0.65， 95％CI（0.38， 1.12）， P＝0.12] and tachycardia[RR＝0.40， 95％CI（0.12， 1.31）， P＝0.13] between two groups. CONCLUSIONS： The efficacy and safety of risperidone in the treatment of BPSD are signi- ficantly better than haloperidol， and risperidone can improve agitation behavior and general cognitive state of patients.