[Relationships between positive or negative early subjective response to antipsychotics and demographic and clinical variables in the group of patients with schizophrenia].
The early subjective response to antipsychotic treatment of patients with schizophrenia has been connected with adherence to medication, outcome, pre-treatment severity of symptoms and adverse effects of drug treatment.


OBJECTIVE
. To establish whether there are demographic and clinical differences between patients with positive and negative response to antipsychotic treatment.


METHODS
A group of 100 schizophrenic patients (46 women and 54 men) were included into the study. Patients received first generation (N=64) or second generation (N=36) antipsychotics according to the decision of the physician. To assess the subjective experience of medication the Drug Attitude Inventory and the Neuroleptic Dysphoria Scale were used 24-48 hours after the initial dose.


RESULTS
The concordance rate between assessment with DAI and NDS was high (Spearman = 0.58). The group with negative subjective response (68%) differs from the group with positive subjective response (32%) as regards: gender (men 18.5%, women 47.8%, p=0.002), age (negative response more common in the youngest--57%, and oldest group--62%), level of education (more dysphoric patients in the less educated group) social support (more patients with negative response received disability pension, 31% vs. 13%. More patients with positive response had ajob (26.5% vs. 0%) and own family (13% vs. 6%). With respect to PANSS scores, patients with positive response were less severe ill (PANSS total 85.9) than those with negative response (PANSS total 93.2, p = 0.07).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with early negative response to antipsychotics were more often in the youngest and oldest groups, were less educated, had more social support, didn't work and had more psychotic symptoms than patients with positive response.
Murawiec
Sławomir
S
III Klinika Psychiatryczna IPiN.
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents