Abstract
BackgroundSchizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder. Poor medical adherence increases relapse rate. Long-acting injection of antipsychotic agent is developed for improving medical adherence. In this study, we examined the effect of paliperidone long-acting injection (PLAI) treatment in patients with schizophrenia in a real-world setting.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, 467 patients with schizophrenia were enrolled, treated with risperidone PLAI or oral antipsychotics, and followed for 1 year. Concomitant medication, namely anticonvulsants, antidepressants, anxiolytics, sedatives or hypnotics, anticholinergics, and beta-blockers, were administered. Patients were classified into 2 groups: the LAI group (patients received LAI for treatment) and the NLAI group (patients taking only oral antipsychotics). The incidence of hospitalization, the length of hospitalization, and the incidence of emergency room visits were assessed.ResultsThe LAI group had a higher incidence of psychiatric acute ward admission (NLAI group = 4.8%; LAI = 30.3%) and emergency room visits (NLAI group = 7.3%; LAI group = 36.0%) before enrolment. During the one-year follow-up, the incidence of acute ward admission and emergency room visit did not differ in the NLAI group (P = .586 and .241) compared with before enrolment, whereas both incidences were significantly decreased in the LAI group (P < .0001 in both of them).ConclusionsPLAI reduces the incidence of admission and emergency room visits.
Highlights
The NLAI group consisted of patients receiving oral antipsychotic agents, whereas the Long-acting injection (LAI) group consisted of patients receiving paliperidone long-acting injection (PLAI)
Of these 467 patients, 178 received PLAI, whereas 289 were treated with oral antipsychotic agents. These patients were followed for another year. These 467 patients were divided into 2 groups: the NLAI group and the LAI group
The LAI group had a higher incidence of psychiatric acute ward admission before enrolment (NLAI group, 4.8% [95% CI 2.9 to 8.0%]; LAI group, 30.3% [95% CI 23.6 to 37.1%])
Summary
Study design This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of E-Da Hospital. A total of 467 patients with schizophrenia receiving different types of antipsychotic treatment were included in this retrospective cohort study. Among these patients, 178 received at least one PLAI injection, and 289 were treated with oral-form antipsychotics alone. The NLAI group consisted of patients receiving oral antipsychotic agents, whereas the LAI group consisted of patients receiving PLAI This observational study was conducted in a university hospital. This study determined clinical outcomes in patients with schizophrenia and the relationship with different pharmacological treatments during 1 year of follow-up. The change between the hospitalization incidence before recruitment and the rehospitalization incidence after enrolment was examined using Fisher’s exact test
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