Effectiveness of antipsychotic treatment for schizophrenia: 6-month results of the Pan-European Schizophrenia Outpatient Health Outcomes (SOHO) study.
OBJECTIVE
To present the 6-month outcomes associated with antipsychotic treatment of patients participating in the Schizophrenia Outpatient Health Outcomes (SOHO) study.


METHODS
SOHO is a 3-year, prospective, observational study of the health outcomes associated with antipsychotic treatment in 10 European countries. The study included over 10,000 out-patients who were initiating or changing their antipsychotic medication.


RESULTS
Clinical Global Impression (CGI)-severity and quality of life (QOL) scores improved in all treatment cohorts. There was a higher response in the CGI-overall symptoms and in the CGI-schizophrenia positive, negative, cognitive and depressive symptom scales in the olanzapine (Olz) and clozapine (Cloz) cohorts compared with other treatment cohorts. Changes were associated with an improvement in QOL.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients starting Olz and Cloz tend to have better outcomes at 6 months than patients who start other antipsychotics in actual out-patient clinical practice. The results should be interpreted conservatively because of the non-randomized study design.
Haro
J M
JM
Sant Joan de Déu-Serveis de Salut Mental, Sant Boi, Barcelona, Spain. 27652jha@comb.es
Edgell
E T
ET
Novick
D
D
Alonso
J
J
Kennedy
L
L
Jones
P B
PB
Ratcliffe
M
M
Breier
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003024:Clozapine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019370:Observation; D000077152:Olanzapine; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003024:Clozapine; D000077152:Olanzapine