title: Enhancing adherence, subjective well-being and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia: which role for long-acting risperidone?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated adherence to treatment, quality of life and subjective well-being in patients with psychosis treated with long-acting injectable risperidone. Subjects enrolled were part of a larger study where patients were observed in an adherence to treatment program of the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 27 nonadherent patients (21 men, six women; mean age: 36.1 years; range: 23-63 years) were enrolled. Maximum observational period was 30 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 12 patients were under treatment for 30 months (44.44%) but only nine had a valid 30-month follow up, while the remaining three patients initially treated at our unit continued long-acting risperidone at their local centre. Reductions of monthly mean values of Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) [repeated measures analysis of variance (rm-ANOVA): p < 0.0001] and Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) (p < 0.0001), increase of monthly mean values of Subjective Well-Being Under Neuroleptic Treatment Scale (SWN) (p < 0.0001) and Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale (S-QoL) (p < 0.01) were observed. Significant differences with respect to SAPS baseline values from the sixth month, SANS baseline values from the seventh month, SWN baseline values from the eighth month, S-QoL baseline values from the eighteenth month were shown in post hoc tests. Reduction of SAPS mean values was associated with increase of SWN (p < 0.0001) and S-QoL (p < 0.0001) mean values as demonstrated by correlation analysis. The same inverse correlation was found between reduction of SANS mean values and increases of SWN (p < 0.0001) and S-QoL (p = 0.0001) mean values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term treatment with long-acting risperidone may be associated with improvement to adherence to therapy and quality of life. Patients may show improvement in psychopathological symptoms, subjective well-being and quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Psychiatry, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy Psychiatric Clinic, Fondazione Policlinico 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Niolu
authors.affiliation: Chair of Psychiatry, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Via Nomentana 1362, 00137 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bianciardi
authors.affiliation: Chair of Psychiatry, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Lorenzo
authors.affiliation: Chair of Psychiatry, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marchetta
authors.affiliation: Chair of Psychiatry, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy Psychiatric Clinic, Fondazione Policlinico 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ylenia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Barone
authors.affiliation: Chair of Psychiatry, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sterbini
authors.affiliation: Chair of Psychiatry, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ribolsi
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics and Data Management Uni Medi Service, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reggiardo
authors.affiliation: Chair of Psychiatry, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy Psychiatric Clinic, Fondazione Policlinico 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siracusano
keywords: long-acting antipsychotics; nonadherence; quality of life; risperidone; schizophrenia; subjective well-being