[Risperidone: a real alternative for patients treated with depot neuroleptics].
OBJECTIVE
to determine the efficacy and tolerability of risperidone in schizophrenic outpatients.


METHODS



METHODS
multicentre, observational, 6 month follow-up study.


METHODS
421 schizophrenic (ICD-10 criteria) outpatients previously treated with depot neuroleptics and who were switched from depot medication to risperidone due to inefficacy and/or low tolerability.


RESULTS
BPRS, CGI, GAF, UKU, and DAI were administered at baseline and months 1, 3, and 6.


METHODS
the Wilcoxon's T, Friedman's test, and Cochran's Q have been employed.


RESULTS
Mean total dose of risperidone: 5.5 mg/d (SD 2.4). Scores on BPRS, CGI, GAF, UKU, DAI showed statistically significant improvements (p<0.0001). Significant decrease in the proportion of patients using anticholinergic drugs to control extrapyramidal symptoms and in the rate of hospitalizations.


CONCLUSIONS
patients benefited from the change to risperidone in terms of efficacy, tolerance, compliance and admissions. Depot neuroleptic treated schizophrenic patients can benefit from treatment change to an oral atypic antipsychotic like risperidone to ease compliance, illness outcome and patient community integration.
Bobes
J
J
Area de Psiquiatría, Universidad de Oviedo. bobes@correo.uniovi.es
González
M P
MP
Sáiz
P A
PA
Octavio
I
I
Fernández
J M
JM
Bousoño
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D018967:Risperidone