title: Clinical outcomes of long-acting injectable risperidone in patients with schizophrenia: six-month follow-up from the Electronic Schizophrenia Treatment Adherence Registry in Latin America.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Risperidone long-acting injection (RLAI) has been shown to be efficacious, improve compliance, and increase long-term retention rate on therapy. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of RLAI on clinical outcome and hospitalization rate in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder enrolled in the electronic Schizophrenia Treatment Adherence Registry in Latin America.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected at baseline, retrospectively for the 12 months prior to baseline, and prospectively every three months for 24 months. Hospitalization prior to therapy was assessed by a retrospective chart review. Efficacy and functioning were evaluated using Clinical Global Impression of Illness Severity (CGI-S), Personal and Social Performance (PSP), and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores. Relapse and treatment were also registered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were recruited in Mexico (n = 53), Brazil (n = 11), and Colombia (n = 15). Sixty-five percent (n = 52) were male, and mean age was 32.9 years. Patients were classified as having schizophrenia (n = 73) or schizoaffective disorder (n = 6). The mean dose of RLAI at six months was 34.1 mg (standard deviation = 10.2 mg). The percentage of hospitalized patients before treatment was 28.2% and 5.1% at six months after initiating RLAI (P < 0.001). Significant changes were registered on CGI-S, GAF, and PSP scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RLAI was associated with an improvement in clinical symptoms and functioning, and a greater reduction in hospitalization.
authors.affiliation: Americas University, Behavior and Development Sciences Division, Universidad de las Américas AC, División de Ciencias del Comportamiento y del Desarrollo, Puebla 223, Col Roma, México City, Mexico. rapiquian@udla.mx
authors.forename: Rogelio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Apiquian
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Córdoba
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Louzã