It is well known that there are high levels of response to treatment topatients with a first episode and early schizophrenia. This outcome is hampered by inadequate treatment adherence, which leads to relapse, and high sensitivity to side-effects. Risperidone Long Acting Injectable (RLAI) treatment has proven to be advantageous compared to oral treatment to these early patients, both clinically and pharmacoeconomically. RLAI has proven to improve treatment adherence, prolong time to relapse vs. more chronically ill patients, to improve patient functioning and also to achieve better symptom control in comparison to oral haloperidol, risperidone and also to patients switched from oral olanzapine. Therefore, treatment with atypicals and especially with RLAI to first episode and early patients can alter favorably the course of the schizophrenic disorder.
References
- Olivares J-M, Long-Term Outcomes in Patients with treat with Risperidone Long Acting Injection or oral antipsychotics in Spain:Results from the electronic Schizophrenia Treatment Adherence Registry (e_STAR) Europ Psychiatry. 2009. in press . [DOI] [PubMed]
- Lambert T, Risperidone Long Acting Injection in the Treatment of Recently vs. Longer Diagnosed Patients with Schizophrenia. Poster Presented at the 21st Congress of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, August 30 - September 3, 2008, Barcelona, Spain.