Long-term outcome of depot neuroleptic maintenance treatment among chronic psychotic patients.
A total of 51 chronic psychotic out-patients, with a median age of 51 years and median duration of psychosis of 23 years, treated with depot neuroleptics, entered a 5-year follow-up study with assessments of symptoms, side-effects and plasma concentration of the depot drug (follow-up (FU) patients). The outcome for 38 non-eligible (NE) patients was obtained from hospital case reports. The relapse rate was higher for NE than for FU patients (71% vs. 50%). The mortality rate was 9%, and the median age at death was 47 years. Half of the FU patients completed 3 years of treatment uneventfully. Of the total of 89 patients, only 18% remained stable over a period of 5 years. The depot dose was approximately the same after 3 years (median 255 mg, range 50-1018 mg chlorpromazine equivalents).
Tuninger
E
E
Department of Psychiatry, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
Levander
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002423:Cause of Death; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations