Quality of life in persons with schizophrenia in out-patient treatment with first- or second-generation antipsychotics.
OBJECTIVE
Effects of first in comparison with second-generation antipsychotics on the subjective quality of life (QoL) of patients with schizophrenia under routine treatment conditions were examined.


METHODS
In a prospective naturalistic trial the QoL, social, clinical, and treatment-related characteristics and type of antipsychotic medication of 307 patients with schizophrenia (ICD-10 F 20) were assessed five times with 6-month intervals over 2.5 years. Longitudinal and cross-sectional effects of antipsychotic medication were assessed by hierarchical regression models. Selection bias was controlled by propensity scores.


RESULTS
While positive effects of first-generation antipsychotics on subjective QoL in comparison with no antipsychotic treatment were found, second-generation antipsychotics caused no better QoL than first-generation antipsychotics.


CONCLUSIONS
The hypothesis that second-generation in comparison with first-generation antipsychotics have a better effect on the improvement of subjective QoL of people with schizophrenia in routine out-patient treatment was not supported.
Kilian
R
R
Department of Psychiatry, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. reinhold.kilian@bkh-guenzburg.de
Dietrich
S
S
Toumi
M
M
Angermeyer
M C
MC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents