Abstract
Aims and MethodTo establish if participants with schizophrenia receiving depot antipsychotics had less insight than similar participants receiving oral atypical antipsychotics. We assessed the difference between these two groups.ResultsParticipants on oral antipsychotics had greater insight than those on depot antipsychotics (ITAQ, P=0.01). In the multiple regression analysis, only receiving depot antipsychotics contributed significantly to explaining variance in insight (adjusted R2=0.135, F=8.99, P=0.004).Clinical ImplicationsDepot antipsychotics seem to be prescribed to a subgroup of people with schizophrenia who are likely to be less adherent because of lower levels of insight. These individuals are on significantly higher doses of antipsychotic medication. Clinicians should review their patients on depot antipsychotics at regular intervals.
Highlights
Depot antipsychotics seem to be prescribed to a subgroup of people with schizophrenia who are likely to be less adherent because of lower levels of insight
These individuals are on significantly higher doses of antipsychotic medication
The findings of the study confirmed our hypothesis that participants receiving depot antipsychotics would have significantly less insight than those receiving oral antipsychotics
Summary
Participants on oral antipsychotics had greater insight than those on depot antipsychotics (ITAQ, P=0.01). Depot antipsychotics seem to be prescribed to a subgroup of people with schizophrenia who are likely to be less adherent because of lower levels of insight These individuals are on significantly higher doses of antipsychotic medication. A substantial number of patients remain on depot antipsychotic medication long term This raises the question of whether this is due to inertia, or reflects a rational clinical decision based on the benefits of reducing covert non-adherence in a subgroup of patients with poor insight. To answer this question, we tested the hypothesis that patients with schizophrenia on depot medication would have lower levels of insight than similar patients receiving oral antipsychotics. We aimed to control for potential confounding variables such as symptom severity, side-effects and duration of illness
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