Satisfaction of patients and caregivers with long-acting injectable risperidone and oral atypical antipsychotics

Background: The satisfaction of schizophrenia patients with their treatment can strongly influence treatment adherence and subsequent long-term outcome. Atypical antipsychotics reportedly have greater adherence rates, owing to a lower incidence of side effects and higher levels of patient satisfaction and acceptability. However, patient satisfaction with long-acting injectable atypical antipsychotics has not been compared with that of oral atypical antipsychotics. Objective: The objective of the study was to identify differences in patient and caregiver satisfaction between long-acting injectable risperidone and oral atypical antipsychotics. Research design and methods: Forty-seven patients with schizophrenia, who were currently receiving treatment with long-acting injectable risperidone and their caregivers were surveyed using a semi-structured questionnaire that addressed their drug satisfaction and acceptability. Sixty-two patients currently taking oral atypical antipsychotics and their caregivers were surveyed for comparison. In the questionnaire, subjects were asked to indicate their satisfaction level on a 10-point visual analogue scale (VAS). Items to identify discomfort and side effects experienced were also included. Results: The VAS satisfaction score was significantly higher for patients receiving long-acting injectable risperidone than for those taking oral atypical antipsychotics (7.53 vs 6.87, P < 0.05). The overall VAS score was significantly higher for caregivers of both groups of patients than for the patients themselves (8.04 vs 7.16, P < 0.000). Conclusion: A new drug delivery system using long-acting injectable risperidone may offer better adherence in schizophrenia treatment, owing to higher levels of patient and caregiver satisfaction, and thereby result in improved treatment outcomes. Further studies in a strictly controlled setting are strongly needed because that present study was not strictly controlled and the duration of treatment of the injection group was relatively short.