Symptom control, functioning, and hospitalization status in French patients changed from oral atypical antipsychotics to risperidone long-acting injectable

Objective. To investigate efficacy and tolerability of risperidone long-acting injectable (RLAI) in French patients with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders, who were all switching from previous treatment with oral atypical antipsychotics. The impact of treatment with RLAI on the hospitalization status of these patients was also examined. Methods. Clinically stable patients requiring a treatment change received 25 mg RLAI (increased to 37.5 or 50 mg if required) every 2 weeks for 6 months. Results. Of 130 patients (68.5% male, mean age 36.2 years), most (83.8%) had DSM-IV schizophrenia (mainly paranoid). Previous treatments were risperidone (80.8%), olanzapine (10.0%) and amisulpride (10.0%). Out of 66 patients hospitalized at baseline, 51 were outpatients at endpoint. Mean total PANSS, CGI-S and GAF scores were significantly reduced from baseline to treatment endpoint (p<0.001). Of those patients reported as moderate to severely ill at the beginning of the trial (81.3%), fewer had the same classification at endpoint (50.8%). Mean scores for total ESRS and Parkinsonism subscales were significantly reduced after only 1 month of treatment (p<0.001). Conclusion. Treatment with RLAI significantly improved disease symptoms, functioning, hospitalization status, and reduced movement disorders, in psychotic patients considered clinically stable on oral atypical antipsychotics.