[Quality of life and disability in chronic schizophrenics treated with with risperidone and previously treated with depot neuroleptics].
OBJECTIVE
1. Assess the evolution of disability and quality of life in schizophrenic patients treated with risperidone and who had received depot neuroleptics; 2. Evaluate risperidone efficiency; 3. Evaluate safety of this drug.


METHODS
Post-marketing multicentric observational (8 months) surveillance study was carried out.


METHODS
109 schizophrenic patients (ICD-10 criteria).


METHODS
baseline and months 2, 4 and 8.


METHODS
SF-36, WHO/DDS-S, BPRS and CGI. Safety was evaluated by the UKU subscale for neurological side effects and spontaneous reports.


RESULTS
statistically significant improvement of the mean scores of BPRS, CGI, WHO/DDS-S and SF-36 at 2, 4 and 8 months. There was a significant reduction in the total UKU subscale for neurological side effects scores from visit 1 (month 2) onwards. Risperidone was generally well tolerated by the study patients. From a total of 104 patients included, only 4 (3.8%) discontinued treatment due to adverse reactions. During the 8 months of study period, 87.6% of the patients did not suffer any adverse event; the resting 12.4 suffered one or more side effects. The most frequently reported adverse events according spontaneous reports were: anxiety and restlessness (n= 4; 3.8%), weight increase (n= 4; 3.8%), sexual disturbances (n= 4; 3.8%) and amenorrhea (n= 2; 1.9%) among others.


CONCLUSIONS
the long-term treatment with risperidone has improved the disability and quality of life levels of a large group of schizophrenic patients previously treated with depot neuroleptics.
Bobes
J
J
Area de Psiquiatría, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, 33006, España.
Gutiérrez
M
M
Gibert
J
J
González
M P
MP
Herraiz
M L
ML
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D018967:Risperidone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D018967:Risperidone