Intervals between hospitalisations in schizophrenia patients under antipsychotics in depot-form versus oral second generation antipsychotics

Abstract

Objective The reduction of the frequency of rehospitalisation is important for improving the outcomes for patients with schizophrenia. Methods This study compares the rate of rehospitalisation between patients with antipsychotics in depot-from (n=77) and oral second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) (n=156). Results Patients with antipsychotics in depot-form had lower risk of rehospitalisation than with SGAs in oral-form after 24 months (p = 0.027) and 36 months (p = 0.018) (Kaplan-Meyer survival analysis, Log-Rank). Long intervals between two hospitalisations were found for flupentixol depot and clozapine. Conclusions Antipsychotics in depot-form require and active and close outpatient treatment, which may account for long intervals between hospitalisation improved outcomes for patients with schizophrenia.