Time to discontinuation of atypical versus typical antipsychotics in the naturalistic treatment of schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND
There is an ongoing debate over whether atypical antipsychotics are more effective than typical antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia. This naturalistic study compares atypical and typical antipsychotics on time to all-cause medication discontinuation, a recognized index of medication effectiveness in the treatment of schizophrenia.


METHODS
We used data from a large, 3-year, observational, non-randomized, multisite study of schizophrenia, conducted in the U.S. between 7/1997 and 9/2003. Patients who were initiated on oral atypical antipsychotics (clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, or ziprasidone) or oral typical antipsychotics (low, medium, or high potency) were compared on time to all-cause medication discontinuation for 1 year following initiation. Treatment group comparisons were based on treatment episodes using 3 statistical approaches (Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Cox Proportional Hazards regression model, and propensity score-adjusted bootstrap resampling methods). To further assess the robustness of the findings, sensitivity analyses were performed, including the use of (a) only 1 medication episode for each patient, the one with which the patient was treated first, and (b) all medication episodes, including those simultaneously initiated on more than 1 antipsychotic.


RESULTS
Mean time to all-cause medication discontinuation was longer on atypical (N = 1132, 256.3 days) compared to typical antipsychotics (N = 534, 197.2 days; p < .01), and longer on atypicals compared to typicals of high potency (N = 320, 187.5 days; p < .01), medium potency (N = 140, 213.5 days; p < .01), and low potency (N = 74, 208.7 days; p < .01). Among the atypicals, only clozapine, olanzapine, and risperidone had significantly longer time to all-cause medication discontinuation compared to typicals, regardless of potency level, and compared to haloperidol with prophylactic anticholinergic treatment. When compared to perphenazine, a medium-potency typical antipsychotic, only clozapine and olanzapine had a consistently and significantly longer time to all-cause medication discontinuation. Results were confirmed by sensitivity analyses.


CONCLUSIONS
In the usual care of schizophrenia patients, time to medication discontinuation for any cause appears significantly longer for atypical than typical antipsychotics regardless of the typical antipsychotic potency level. Findings were primarily driven by clozapine and olanzapine, and to a lesser extent by risperidone. Furthermore, only clozapine and olanzapine therapy showed consistently and significantly longer treatment duration compared to perphenazine, a medium-potency typical antipsychotic.
Ascher-Svanum
Haya
H
Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. haya@lilly.com
Zhu
Baojin
B
Faries
Douglas
D
Landbloom
Ron
R
Swartz
Marvin
M
Swanson
Jeff
J
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015982:Bias; D003024:Clozapine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D017050:Episode of Care; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000077152:Olanzapine; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010546:Perphenazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012107:Research Design; D018967:Risperidone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D010546:Perphenazine; D003024:Clozapine; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine