Long-acting injectable risperidone and oral antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia: results from a prospective, 1-year, non-interventional study (InORS)

Abstract

Objective. To explore differences in outcomes for patients with schizophrenia treated with risperidone long-acting treatment (RLAT) or oral antipsychotics (oAP). Methods. The International Observational Registry on Schizophrenia (InORS) explored flexible doses of newly initiated RLAT and oAPs for adults with schizophrenia, exploring 6-month retrospective hospitalization data and 12-month prospective medication use, outcomes, and tolerability. Efficacy outcomes included hospitalizations, the Clinical Global Impression of Schizophrenia (CGI-SCH), and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). Medication switch patterns were also analysed. Results. Data were analysed from 1083 patients (561 RLAT, 522 oAP). At baseline, RLAT patients had higher symptom severity, greater functional impairment, and poorer compliance. Percentages of patients hospitalized were similar between groups, and median duration per hospitalization decreased after RLAT initiation and with oAP. The difference in duration of hospitalization between the retrospective and prospective period was significantly better with RLAT (P = 0.002). Mean CGI-SCH change from baseline was significantly better for RLAT vs. oAP patients for overall, positive, and negative symptom scores (P < 0.05). Mean functional improvement from baseline was significantly higher with RLAT vs. oAP (P < 0.001). Conclusions. Hospitalizations and symptomatic and functional outcomes were better with RLAT vs. oAP; frequent medication switches were associated with less favourable outcomes.

Key words::

• oral antipsychotics
• long-acting risperidone
• long-term treatment
• observational
• schizophrenia

Acknowledgements

The study, writing, and editorial support were funded by Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson in EMEA. The authors would like to thank Pim Dekker, PhD, from Excerpta Medica for providing writing and editorial support.

Statement of Interest

Andreas Schreiner is an employee and a member of Medical & Scientific Affairs EMEA at Janssen-Cilag GmbH, Germany, and is a shareholder of Johnson & Johnson.

Anders Svensson is an employee and a member of Medical Affairs EMEA at Janssen-Cilag AB, Sweden, and is a shareholder of Johnson & Johnson.

Robert Wapenaar is an employee and a member of Biometrics and Reporting at Janssen-Cilag B.V., The Netherlands, and is a shareholder of Johnson & Johnson.

Pierre Cherubin is an employee and a member of Medical Affairs EMEA at Janssen-Cilag, France.

Patricia Princet worked on schizophrenia with Janssen, Lilly, BMS, and Otsuka.

Larisa Serazetdinova has no conflicts of interest. Mathias Zink received unrestricted scientific grants from the European Research Advisory Board (ERAB), German Research Foundation (DFG), Pfizer, Servier, and Bristol-Myers Squibb; further speaker and travel grants were provided by AstraZeneca, Lilly, Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Janssen, Servier, Roche, and Otsuka.