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

Abstract

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.

• Schizophrenia
• long-acting risperidone
• tolerability
• functioning
• patient satisfaction

Investigators participating in the Swiss StoRMi trial: Dr. med. Beat Ramseier, Solothurn; Dr. med. Dusica Simic, Solothurn; Dr. med. Philipp Eich, Basel; Dr. med. Radoslav Jovic, Basel; Regula Rudolf von Rohr, Basel; Andreas Köchli, Basel; Prof. Dr. med. Werner K. Strik, Bern; Dr. Horst Kleinlogel, Bern; Dr. med. Matthias Mosimann, Bern; Dr. med. Laszlo P. Gueth, Bern; Dr. med. Jean-Pierre Pauchard, Münsingen; Dr. med. Hans Peter Graf, Münsingen; Dr. med. Stefan Bleuer, Münsingen; Dr. med. Petra Kästner, Münsingen; Dr. med. Lucijano Gorgievski, Münsingen; Dr. med. Blagoje Radosavac, Biel; Dr. med. Majid Al-Shaltchi, Biel; PD Dr. med. Holger Hoffmann, Bern; Dr. med. Ulf Künstler, Bern; Dr. Marius Zbinden, Bern; Dr. med. Veronica Greuter, Bern; Dr. med. Guzide Karadag, Basel; Dr. med. Arnfinn Vigerust, Basel; Lic. phil. Volker Exner, Basel; Roland Schneider, Münsterlingen; Dr. med. Armin Kratzel, Münsterlingen; Dr. med. Urs Fromm, Aarau; Dr. med. Andreas Mohl, Baden; Brigitte Pidoux, Baden; Dr. Violetta Droegsler, Aarau; Dr. med. Caesar Spisla, Aarau; Dr. med. Jean-Pierre Walker, Marin-Epagnier; Dr. med. Doris Speck, Marin-Epagnier; Gilles Cousinié, Marin-Epagnier; Sandrine Calmonte, Marin-Epagnier; Pascal Mlamali, Marin-Epagnier; Jérôme Gauthier, Marin-Epagnier; Dr. med. Ana Liso, Marin-Epagnier; Dr. med. Gabriel Gabrielli, Marin-Epagnier; Dominique Conant, Marin-Epagnier; Herminia Oliveira, Marin-Epagnier; Pascal Zongo, Marin-Epagnier; Dr. med. Dominique Baettig, Delémont; Dr. med. Marco Merlo, Chêne-Bourg; Dr. med. Michel Muscionico, Chêne-Bourg; Dr. med. Dino Constantinidis, Chêne-Bourg; Dr. med. Andri Meiler, Chêne-Bourg; Dr. med. Logos Curtis, Chêne-Bourg.