Effectiveness of a psychosocial intervention for relapse prevention in patients with schizophrenia receiving risperidone via long-acting injection.
Schizophrenia is a chronic disorder that is usually characterized by relapses alternating with periods of full or partial remission. We examined whether combined therapy with a psychosocial intervention for relapse prevention (PIRP) and risperidone administered by long-acting injection (RLAI) would be more effective in reducing relapses than RLAI with treatment-as-usual (TAU) among outpatients with schizophrenia. We conducted a prospective, controlled study over 2 years in 46 patients with schizophrenia receiving RLAI, of which 21 and 25 patients were assigned to the PIRP and TAU control groups, respectively. The 1- and 2-year relapse rates were lower and medication compliance was higher in the PIRP group than in the TAU group. Cox proportional analysis revealed that time from baseline to relapse was associated with RLAI discontinuation. These results indicate that PIRP can be effective in maintaining medication compliance, and that discontinuation of long-acting atypical antipsychotics might be predictive of the next relapse. However, these results need to be replicated in studies with larger samples.
Lee
Sang-Hyuk
SH
Department of Psychiatry, Pochon CHA University College of Medicine, 351 Yatap-Dong, Bundang-Gu, Seongnam-Si, Kyounggi-Do 135-720, Republic of Korea.
Choi
Tae Kyou
TK
Suh
Shinyoung
S
Kim
Yong Woo
YW
Kim
Borah
B
Lee
Eunhee
E
Yook
Ki Hwan
KH
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D018967:Risperidone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018967:Risperidone