Economic evaluation of long acting aripiprazole as maintenance therapy for paranoid schizophrenia

Abstract

Introduction

Patient adherence to a treatment regimen is of utmost importance for successful outcomes in schizophrenia. Long acting aripiprazole (LAA) is a new drug of depot antipsychotic type placed in the market recently that could prevent non-adherence and in reducing relapse in schizoprenia administered every 28 days.

Objective

A descriptive, observational study designed to explore the efficacy and tolerability of long acting aripiprazole in a sample of patients diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia that were admitted to Acute Unit in 2014. LAA was introduced on the admission.

Methods

Sociodemographic variables: age, sex, and marital status. Clinical variables: average time since diagnosis, concomitant consumption of toxic substances, reason to change medication, subsequent readmissions after LAA was introduced, evaluation of the modification of the oral regimen. PANSS and CGI. Metabolic profile: weight, glycaemia, and total cholesterol, LDL and HDL, triglycerides. Cost at the beginning and after 6 months.

Results

Mean age: 44.50 years, 54% women. Marital status: 54% single, 27% married, 27% divorced. Mean time from diagnosis: 11 years. Toxic consumption: 27% active, 18% ex-drug users. Three patients were readmitted after introducing LAA, 2 of them were for abandoning medication (including LAA). PANSS at 6 months showed statistically significant differences in negative subscale (3 points). No statistical differences in positive and general psychopathology subscales. No metabolic side effect was found. Average saving per patient 37.05 euros per month (Fig. 1).

Conclusion

This study signalizes that LAA is an effective treatment. Clinically, it has been shown that our patients improve adherence and prevent relapse. Moreover, no metabolic side effects were found. Besides, LAA is also efficient and we would save 407,55 euros per month.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Fig. 1