Association of adverse drug effects with subjective well-being in patients with schizophrenia receiving stable doses of risperidone.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to examine the association of adverse drug effects with subjective well-being in patients with schizophrenia receiving stable doses of risperidone.


METHODS
Thirty outpatients with schizophrenia receiving stable doses of risperidone were comprehensively evaluated for psychopathology, subjective well-being, and adverse drug effects. Subjective well-being was assessed using the Subjective Well-being Under Neuroleptics Scale (SWN). Adverse drug effects were evaluated using the Liverpool University Neuroleptic Side Effect Rating Scale (LUNSERS) and the Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale (DIEPSS).


RESULTS
In correlation analysis controlling for relevant variables, the SWN score had significant negative correlations with the following subscale scores of the LUNSERS: extrapyramidal side effect (EPS) (r = -0.54, P < 0.01), akathisia (r = -0.46, P < 0.05), and autonomic adverse effect (r = -0.44, P < 0.05). The SWN score also had a significant negative correlation with the global severity of EPS as measured by the DIEPSS (r = -0.44, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of our study suggest that adverse effects, particularly EPS and akathisia, are significantly associated with subjective well-being, implying the necessity to develop rational strategies to control these variables effectively. The results also suggest that EPS and akathisia continue to be major adverse effects associated with a low level of subjective well-being in patients receiving risperidone. Further studies are required to investigate the multidimensional factors associated with subjective well-being in patients receiving atypical antipsychotics and to determine their relative contributions.
Kim
Jong-Hoon
JH
Department of Psychiatry, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, South Korea. jhnp@chol.com
Kim
Min-Jung
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D018967:Risperidone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
D018967:Risperidone