Frequency and effects of psychosocial interventions additional to olanzapine treatment in routine care of schizophrenic patients.
BACKGROUND
Guidelines for the treatment of schizophrenia recommend the combination of pharmacologic and psychosocial interventions. There is a lack of data on the utilization and effects of psychosocial interventions additional to neuroleptic treatment in routine care of schizophrenic patients.


METHODS
In a drug utilization study 495 psychiatrists documented patient and disease characteristics of 1,711 schizophrenic outpatients treated with olanzapine. Data were recorded at five visits during an observation period of 6 months.


RESULTS
Psychosocial interventions were reported in 30% of all patients. Compared to patients who were treated with olanzapine alone (nPSI), patients receiving psychosocial interventions (PSI) were more likely to be unmarried and unemployed, and showed significantly higher impairment on relevant psychopathological and psychosocial parameters (e.g. PANSS, GAF, LQLP). After 6 months of treatment with olanzapine patients improved significantly in respect to their schizophrenic symptoms, psychosocial functioning, and quality of life. Patients receiving psychoeducation showed a higher degree of improvement than the other patients. They were more ill at the beginning of the study, but less ill at the end of the study. Patients receiving psychoeducation showed a trend to better medication compliance.


CONCLUSIONS
The data suggest that psychosocial interventions are a frequently used mode of treatment especially for severe cases of schizophrenia Psychoeducation appears to be especially effective for this patient group with a positive impact not only on psychosocial but also on psychopathological criteria of outcome.
Linden
Michael
M
Research Group Psychosomatic Rehabilitation, Charité University Hospital Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany. michael.linden@charite.de
Pyrkosch
Lena
L
Hundemer
Hans-Peter
HP
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010507:Periodicity; D011584:Psychology; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D012931:Social Environment
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000077152:Olanzapine