Perceived functioning, well-being and psychiatric symptoms in patients with stable schizophrenia treated with long-acting risperidone for 1 year.
BACKGROUND
The extent to which antipsychotics improve patients' well-being is uncertain.


OBJECTIVE
To examine psychopathology and patient-rated functioning and well-being in patients treated with risperidone.


METHODS
In a 1-year, open-label, international multicentre trial of long-acting risperidone in 615 stable adult patients with schizophrenia, self-rated functioning and well-being were measured every 3 months using the Short Form 36-item questionnaire (SF-36). Psychopathology was quantified using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).


RESULTS
Significant improvements were found on the SF-36 mental component summary score and vitality and social functioning scales. PANSS and mental component summary scores were moderately correlated.


CONCLUSIONS
Patient-reported functioning and well-being appear to differ from investigator-rated psychotic symptoms. Patient-rated well-being should be assessed with symptoms to help measure treatment outcomes.
Fleischhacker
W Wolfgang
WW
Department of Biological Psychiatry, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. wolfgang.fleischhacker@uibk.ac.at
Rabinowitz
Jonathan
J
Kemmler
Georg
G
Eerdekens
Mariëlle
M
Mehnert
Angelika
A
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D018967:Risperidone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012647:Self-Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018967:Risperidone