Improvement of patient compliance after switching from conventional neuroleptics to the atypical neuroleptic amisulpride.
Medication noncompliance of schizophrenic outpatients is an important problem in clinical practice, causing relapse and illness deterioration. Because atypical neuroleptics have, in controlled clinical studies, been shown to be better tolerated and accepted by patients, the question is whether switching from conventional to atypical neuroleptics such as amisulpride can increase patient compliance also under conditions of routine care. In a drug utilization observation study 570 schizophrenic outpatients, who had been pretreated with conventional neuroleptics and then been switched for individual clinical reasons to amisulpride, were observed for 3 months. Sociodemographic, illness and treatment related variables (e.g. Positive and Negative Symptom Scale, side effects), patients' subjective attitudes, and premedication and treatment compliance were assessed using standardized instruments. A total of 43.7% were rated as being noncompliant with the premedication, while 85.8% were rated as compliant after being switched to amisulpride, including 82.7% of the former noncompliant patients. Patients who had become compliant showed a signicantly better psychopathological status after 3 months as compared to still noncompliant patients, including a lower rate of inpatient stays. Switching noncompliant patients from conventional to atypical neuroleptics like amisulpride can improve patient compliance and psychopathology under conditions of routine treatment.
Linden
Michael
M
Research Group Psychosomatic Rehabilitation at the Charité, University Medicine Berlin and the Rehabilitation Centre Seehof, Teltow/Berlin, Germany. michael.linden@charite.de
Scheel
Tabea
T
Eich
Franz-Xaver
FX
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000077582:Amisulpride; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D013469:Sulpiride; D000077582:Amisulpride