title: Changes in adherence and treatment costs following initiation of oral or depot typical antipsychotics among previously non-adherent patients with schizophrenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed the impact of depot formulations on adherence and treating costs in the naturalistic treatment of previously non-adherent outpatients with schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were taken from the European Schizophrenia Outpatient Health Outcomes (SOHO) study. Medication adherence and treating costs during an 18-month follow-up were assessed and compared for non-adherent patients initiated on depot typical (n = 262) or oral typical antipsychotics (n = 169) as monotherapy at the index visit. Multivariate analyses were employed to adjust for differences between the two groups at the index visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the previously non-adherent patients, more than half of patients initiated on depot typicals (55%) remained adherent to medication during follow-up, whereas the equivalent was 39% for patients initiated on oral typicals. Logistic regression also showed higher odds of being adherent among the former group (Odds ratio = 1.84; 95% CI = 1.19-2.85). In addition, total costs incurred by this group during 18 months were only half those incurred by patients initiated on oral typicals (£3645 vs £7817, p < 0.05) CONCLUSIONS: Depot formulations of typical antipsychotics appeared to improve medication adherence and reduce treatment costs, compared with oral formulations, in the treatment of non-adherent patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  adherence was assessed by the treating psychiatrist using a single-item.
authors.affiliation: Global Health Outcomes, Eli Lilly and Company, Surrey, UK.
authors.forename: Jihyung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Novick
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brugnoli
authors.forename: Jordan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bertsch
authors.forename: Josep Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Haro
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations
keywords: adherence; antipsychotic; cost; non-adherence; schizophrenia