Depot medication and compulsory treatment

Abstract

Introduction It is estimated that 90% of patients with schizophrenia only adhere partially to the treatment. The use of depot medication is an option for patients with schizophrenia rather using it in voluntary or compulsory treatment. Objectives and aims We tried to check on differences in the outpatient treatment of schizophrenia among patients receiving compulsory (involuntary outpatient commitment [IOC]) and voluntary treatment and analyzed the outcomes in patients in IOC taking oral versus depot antipsychotics. Method We assessed and compared socio-demographic and clinical features, therapeutics likelihood of medication adherence (with Medication adherence rating scale [MARS]), personal and social performance (PSP) scale and predominant kind of symptoms (with Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale [PANSS]). Results and conclusion All patients were taking antipsychotics, and 63% of compulsive and 33% of volunteers were taking oral and injectable antipsychotics simultaneously. We observed that 21% of compulsive and 30% of the volunteers were simultaneously doing typical and atypical antipsychotics. Depot medication was being taken by 84% of patients in IOC and in just 54% of volunteers. We do not find statistically significant differences in outcomes of patients in IOC with injectable medication ( n =16) compared to those who were only with oral medication ( n =3), in terms of probability of adherence to medication, functionality or predominant symptomatic type. Compulsive patients had higher use of typical antipsychotics, perhaps in order to have a more sedative effect in patients with more severe disease. The prevalence of atypical antipsychotics in volunteers focuses on the need of a better cognitive performance and functionality.