64 Aripiprazole Long-acting Injectable in Schizophrenia. An 18-month Follow-up and Mirror-image Study

Abstract

Study Objectives

1. To assess the effectiveness, functionality and tolerability of Aripiprazole long-acting injectable (ALAI) in patients with stable schizophrenia

2. Compare hospitalizations and emergency assists during 18-month period before (retrospective period) and after (prospective period) switch to ALAI

Method

The study sample involved 18 patients with stable schizophrenia (DSM 5 criteria) who started treatment with ALAI between January-December 2016.

Variables: age, gender, psychopharmacological treatment.

- Follow-up study: Prospective assessments were performed at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months:

∙ Brief Psychiatric rating Scale (BPRS)

∙ Global Clinical Impression Scale (ICG-SI)

∙ Personal and social Performance (PSP)

∙ Side effects reported

- Mirror-image study: 18-month before and afters witch

∙ Number of hospitalizations and emergency assists

The study was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and all the participants provided written consent for participation.

Student’s t-test and Chi-square test were used to assess differences between baseline evaluation and subsequent visits. For mirror-image analysis test Z and MacNemar was used.

Results

a) Efficacy and functionality: At the end of the study we observed:

∙ A statistically significant: reduction in the total score of ICG-SI, and increase in the total score of PSP

∙ A reduction in the total score of BPRS.

There is an indirect correlation between age and changes in the score on: BPRS and ICG-SI (p<0.05) and PSP scale (p<0.05)

b) Tolerability: The most frequent side effect with an incidence of 22% was transient mild insomnia

c) Psychopharmacological treatment: The percentage of patients on monotherapy increased from 39.6% baseline to 66.6%, and treatment with Biperidene decreased from 27.5% to 5.5% at the end of the study

d) Number of hospitalizations and emergency assist:

∙ 12 hospital admission during 18-month period before switch to ALI, and 3 hospital admission 18-month after switch

∙ 24 emergency assist during 18-month period before switch to ALI, and 7 emergency assist 18-month afterswitch

e) Treatment compliance: shown in Table 1.

Conclusions

ALAI can be effective therapy for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia: improves psychopathological symptoms, functionality and can prevent hospitalizations and emergency visits. In addition, ALAI is well tolerated, achieving a high percentage of patients in monotherapy.