Comparison of Injectable and Oral Antipsychotics in Relapse Rates in a Pragmatic 30-Month Schizophrenia Relapse Prevention Study.

Authors

• Peter F Buckley
• Nina R Schooler
• Donald C Goff
• Alex Kopelowicz
• John Lauriello
• Theo C Manschreck
• Alan Mendelowitz
• Del D Miller
• Daniel R Wilson
• Donna Ames
• Juan R Bustillo
• John M Kane
• Stephen W Looney

Publication/Presentation Date

12-1-2016

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: In a pragmatic clinical trial, this study sought to compare relapses among patients receiving either long-acting injectable or oral second-generation antipsychotics.

METHODS: PROACTIVE (Preventing Relapse Oral Antipsychotics Compared to Injectables Evaluating Efficacy), a prior 30-month relapse prevention study, compared use of a long-acting injectable second-generation antipsychotic with use of an oral second-generation antipsychotic by 305 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and found similar rates of first relapse between groups (42% with injectable medication, 32% with oral medication). This study examined subsequent relapses among patients who had relapsed in PROACTIVE and who continued in treatment, follow-up, or both.

RESULTS: Thirty-two patients (11%) experienced two relapses, and 13 patients (4%) had three relapses. Neither rate of relapse nor time to successive relapses differed between treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONS: There was an impressively low rate of subsequent relapses in this pragmatic clinical trial. Because all patients had a clinic visit according to the biweekly long-acting injectable medication administration schedule, frequent contact may have contributed to low relapse rates. Maintaining frequent clinical contact may be a valid psychosocial relapse prevention treatment.

Volume

67

Issue

12

First Page

1370

Last Page

1372

ISSN

1557-9700

Published In/Presented At

Buckley, P. F., Schooler, N. R., Goff, D. C., Kopelowicz, A., Lauriello, J., Manschreck, T. C., Mendelowitz, A., Miller, D. D., Wilson, D. R., Ames, D., Bustillo, J. R., Kane, J. M., & Looney, S. W. (2016). Comparison of Injectable and Oral Antipsychotics in Relapse Rates in a Pragmatic 30-Month Schizophrenia Relapse Prevention Study. Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.), 67(12), 1370–1372. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201500466

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

27476806

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article