Influence of type of treatment on the well-being of Spanish patients with schizophrenia and their caregivers

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate quality of life and burden on caregivers in Spanish outpatients with schizophrenia, treated with different antipsychotics.

Methods: Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected for 1865 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Patients answered the EuroQol-5D questionnaire and caregivers answered questionnaires assessing caregiver burden. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Clinical Global Impression of Severity (CGI-S), and clinician's satisfaction were also recorded. The same data were also collected at months 3 and 6.

Results: According to EQ-5D results, usual activities (29.6%) and anxiety/depression (31.1%) were the most relevant reported problems. Good overall scores (5-7) on EQ-5D were reported by 47/118 (39.8%) of risperidone long-acting injectable (LAI) patients compared to 52/218 (23.9%) for oral conventional antipsychotics, 51/194 (26.2%) for injectable conventional antipsychotics, and 332/1110 (29.9%) for oral atypical antipsychotics. Significant benefits of risperidone LAI vs. other types of antipsychotic were also found in caregiver burden and clinician-derived outcome measures. At months 3 and 6, retention was > 85%, and score on the EQ5D improved for the overall sample.

Conclusions: In Spanish patients with schizophrenia, activities of daily living and anxiety/depression were more relevant reported problems. Risperidone LAI was associated with better quality-of-life outcomes and lower caregiver burden compared to other types of antipsychotic.