EPA-1421 – Progress in the Selection and Delivery of Pharmacological Treatments in Psychiatry

Abstract

Introduction

Improvements in study designs, in statistical methods and the use of ’real world’ data as well as better safety monitoring helped in better defining efficacy, effectiveness and safety of drugs. New formulations of available drugs have been developed. Better information on efficacy, effectiveness and safety and larger variety of formulations help to improve the selection of the right drug for different patient groups and for individual patients.

Objectives

The aims of this study are to examine 1/. How different formulations of antipsychotic drugs may impact on treatment? 2/. How recent comparative analyses of treatment efficacy/effectiveness and safety may help clinicians and patients in making better selection from the available pool of antipsychotic drugs?

Methods

Selected review of the literature on antipsychotic treatment. Variables: all-cause treatment discontinuation and patients’ preference.

Results

Small but robust, in some cases significant differences exist between the efficacy/effectiveness of antipsychotics and their different formulations (1,2). Patients may prefer one formulation over the other and a high proportion of patients prefer to continue taking their prescribed drug, rather than switching to another one (3).

Conclusions

Clinically relevant differences exist between antipsychotic drugs and between different formulations of the same drug. Treatment patterns may influence treatment efficacy.