What Antipsychotic Medications and Risk Factors Are Associated With More Relapses in Chronic Schizophrenia Patients?

Abstract

Background: Schizophrenia is a chronic illness, with the majority of patients experiencing multiple relapses. Our aim is to survey the risk factors and antipsychotic medications associated with more relapses in schizophrenia patients.

Methods: The records of 251 schizophrenia patients who were adherent to their antipsychotic medications during the course of their illness were surveyed. The files were divided to two groups with regard to the number of admissions. The groups were compared regarding age, sex, education, marital status, place of living, family history, positive or negative symptom profile, substance abuse and the antipsychotic medications used.

Results: The patients of the two groups did not show any differences regarding demographic factors. The dominant antipsychotic (the antipsychotic used more than 50% of time during the course of illness) used in the two groups was risperidone without significant difference (P = 0.486). Only substance abuse (P = 0.090) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) administration (P < 0.001) were shown to be different between the groups.

Conclusions: Antipsychotics were not revealed to have preventive effects for relapse. Less substance abuse was demonstrated to lessen the risk of relapse.

J Neurol Res. 2020;10(5):183-187
doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jnr613