Symptom control, functioning and satisfaction among Swiss patients treated with risperidone long-acting injectable

Objective: To investigate antipsychotic efficacy and tolerability of risperidone long-acting injectable (RLAI) in Swiss patients with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders, changed directly from their previous antipsychotic medication.

Methods: Patients symptomatically stable for ≥1 month on their previous medication and considered to require a treatment change, received 25 mg RLAI (increased to 37.5 or 50 mg, if required) every 2 weeks for 6 months.

Results: Of 60 patients enrolled (68.3% male, average age 40.4 years), most (81.7%) had DSM-IV schizophrenia (mainly paranoid). Previous treatments were with atypical antipsychotics (58.3% of patients), depot (38.3%) and conventional oral (13.3%) neuroleptics. Mean total PANSS scores were significantly reduced from baseline to treatment endpoint (76.1 vs. 64.4, P<0.001), as were all PANSS subscale and symptom factor scores. The CGI, GAF, and patient satisfaction with treatment were also significantly improved at endpoint (P<0.001). At endpoint, 37.0% of patients rated their satisfaction as "very good" compared with only 4.3% at baseline. Mean scores for total ESRS and Parkinsonism subscales were significantly reduced at endpoint (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Treatment with RLAI significantly improved disease symptoms, functioning, patient satisfaction, and reduced movement disorders. It provides an important option for long-term treatment of patients with psychotic disorders.