Clinical outcomes with paliperidone palmitate 3-monthly injection as monotherapy: observational 3-year follow-up of patients with schizophrenia.

Abstract

Paliperidone palmitate 3-monthly (PP3M) has been tested in 1-year controlled studies. The aim of this study was to examine the relapse outcomes with PP3M monotherapy at 3years in patients with schizophrenia. This was an observational, non-interventional study of patients started on PP3M according to their clinical need. All patients had a diagnosis of schizophrenia (ICD-10F20) and were between 18 and 65years of age. The study took place in a mental health facility in South East London, UK. Among the 166 patients who started PP3M, 97 (58%) met inclusion criteria and were observed for 36months. In total, five patients (5%) experienced a relapse (defined as step-up in clinical care) while on PP3M. There were no relapses between months 18 and 36. Of the original 97 patients, 56 (58%) remained on PP3M monotherapy at 3years, and 71 (73%) remained on either PP3M or paliperidone palmitate one-monthly. Reasons for discontinuation of PP3M included patient refusal (n=11, 33% of discontinuations) and adverse effects in (n=8, 24%). PP3M is a highly effective monotherapy treatment for reducing relapse in people with schizophrenia.