EPA-1601 - Long-acting Injectable Antipsychotics in Patients with Schizophrenia: A 18 Months Study

Abstract

Introduction

The expectative in regards achieving better therapeutic adherence related to medication compliance in schizophrenia has been shown to be greater in patients treated with long-acting injectable antipsychotics.

Objective

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether or not the schizophrenia treatment under evidence-based clinical practice conditions with Palmitate Paliperidone in comparison with conventional depots antipsychotics, will improve the patient evolution and prognosis in schizophrenia.

Method

This 18 months study, the patient population consisted of 30 outpatients, all diagnosed with schizophrenia, who received treatment with Paliperidone Palmitate (n=15). A comparison was conducted with the same number of patients who received treatment with depot conventional antipsychotic.

All patients were evaluated every three months and the following scales were used for assessment and measurement: Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Global illness Severity (Global Clinical Impression CGI), Treatment Satisfaction Scale, Remission Criteria (Andreassen criteria,) Personal and Social Performance (PSP) and the Subjective Well-being under Neuroleptic Scale (SWN-K)

Results

At endpoint, we found statistical differences among both study groups: The Paliperidone Palmitate group showed significantly higher remission rates (p < 0.05) and treatment satisfaction scores (p < 0.05). Also an improvement in global clinical impression (p < 0.05), PSP (p < 0.05) and SWN-K (p < 0.05)

Paliperidone Palmitate group showed lower sexual dysfunction (p < 0.05) compared to conventional depot.

Conclusion

The presented data demonstrated that Paliperidone Palmitate was an efficacy and safety treatment and could improve the outcomes prognosis and the clinical course of the illness in schizophrenic patients when compared with conventional depot