Symptomatic remission in elderly schizophrenia patients treated with long-acting risperidone.
BACKGROUND
In elderly schizophrenia patients remission is difficult to determine due to long disease duration, exposure to differing treatments, long-standing side-effects, non-adherence, cognitive decline and physical comorbidity.


METHODS
Retrospective chart reviews were undertaken of 48 elderly (60+ years) schizophrenia patients admitted to a university-affiliated tertiary psychiatric center in 2006. These patients were experiencing an exacerbation of symptoms at admission. Remission criteria used were those of the American Psychiatric Association's "Remission in Schizophrenia Working Group", and clinical status and improvement were quantified using the Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI).


RESULTS
Of 25 patients treated with long-acting risperidone (LAR), 19 (76%) continued uninterrupted treatment for 6 months or longer. In six patients treatment was discontinued due to insufficient response. The clinical severity ratings with the CGI of all patients were in the range 5-7 prior to treatment. Following six months of LAR treatment, mean dose 36.0 mg/2 weeks (range: 25-50), 18 patients were rated as "improved" or "very much improved" on the CGI-global improvement item scale. In 15/25 patients (60%) symptomatic remission was achieved.


CONCLUSIONS
LAR may be effective in achieving remission among elderly schizophrenia patients. Tolerability was high and adherence rates improved. However, the results must be treated with caution owing to the inherent bias in this retrospective analysis.
Tadger
Shelly
S
Abarbanel Mental Health Center, Bat-Yam and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
Baruch
Yehuda
Y
Barak
Yoram
Y
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018967:Risperidone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D018967:Risperidone