title: One year mirror-image study using paliperidone palmitate for relapse prevention of schizophrenia in four university hospitals in Canada.
abstract: Superiority of long acting injectable antipsychotics (LAI) over oral antipsychotics remains controversial and dependent on study design and inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of 21 RCTs demonstrated no difference in their effectiveness, but meta-analysis of 25 mirror-image studies did. None of these included paliperidone palmitate (PP).
  
  
  
  We challenged efficiency of PP in a multicentric mirror-image study. Primary outcome was total hospitalization days. Mirror periods were 365days either side of the first injection in model-1, and either side of index admission in model-2. Inclusion criteria were: 18 to 65years, schizophrenia spectrum disorder, ≥3 injections received, and oral antipsychotic prescriptions before PP trial. Exclusion criteria were: prior clozapine or LAI trial. Cost-effectiveness was calculated from a public payer's perspective.
  
  
  
  114 patients were recruited (77% males, mean 37years, mean disease duration 10years). Oral antipsychotics adherence was 43%. Mean PP treatment lasted 297days (adherence 81%). Mean annual hospitalization days weren't significantly different in model-1 (45.8days vs 38.5days, p=0.058), but were significantly lower in model-2, (14.4days vs 24.2days, p=0.003). 1.9 admissions per patient-year fell to 0.64 on PP (p<0.0001). PP was approximately cost-neutral: differences were -$326 and $1788 for model-1 and model-2.
  
  
  
  PP as a first LAI improved adherence, decreased hospital visits and duration was cost neutral. Drawbacks are the retrospective design and lack of comparator and safety data. Strengths are naturalistic design and adherence calculation. A subset of patients responds well to LAI, leading to meaningful reductions in hospital services requirements.
authors.affiliation: Department of pharmacy, Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal (IUSMM), 7401 Hochelaga, Montreal, Quebec H1N 3M5, Canada; Faculty of pharmacy, Université de Montréal, 2940 Chemin de la Polytechnique, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4, Canada; IUSMM research center, 7331 Hochelaga, Montreal, Quebec H1N 3V2, Canada. Electronic address: philippe.vincent@umontreal.ca.
authors.forename: Philippe D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.affiliation: Department of pharmacy, Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Québec (IUSMQ), 2601, chemin de la Canardière, Quebec City, Quebec G1J 2G3, Canada; Faculty of pharmacy, Université Laval, 1050 avenue de la Médecine, Quebec City, Quebec G1V 0A6, Canada; IUSMQ Research center, 2601, chemin de la Canardière, Quebec City, Quebec G1J 2G3, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie-France
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Demers
authors.affiliation: Department of pharmacy, Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal (IUSMM), 7401 Hochelaga, Montreal, Quebec H1N 3M5, Canada.
authors.forename: Venessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Doyon-Kemp
authors.affiliation: Department of pharmacy, Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke, 580 rue Bowen Sud J1G 2E8, Canada.
authors.forename: Josée
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duchesneau
authors.affiliation: Department of pharmacy, Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal (IUSMM), 7401 Hochelaga, Montreal, Quebec H1N 3M5, Canada.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Halme
authors.affiliation: Department of pharmacy, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, 5415 boulevard de l'Assomption, Montreal, Quebec H1T 2M4, Canada; Faculty of pharmacy, Université de Montréal, 2940 Chemin de la Polytechnique, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4, Canada.
authors.forename: Violaine
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Masson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002170:Canada; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D000068882:Paliperidone Palmitate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055502:Secondary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D000068882:Paliperidone Palmitate
keywords: Adherence; Economic analysis; Mirror-image study; Paliperidone palmitate; Schizophrenia