Domenico De Berardis1, Federica Vellante2, Luigi Olivieri1, Gabriella Rapini1, Ida De Lauretis1, Laura Orsolini3, Alessandro Valchera4, Alessandro Carano5, Massimiliano Bustini6, Simone De Persis6, Sabatino Trotta7, Michele Fornaro8, Antonio Ventriglio9, Vassilis Martiadis10, Laura Simione11, Maurizio Pompili12, Gianluca Serafini13, Marco Di Nicola14, Marco Alessandrini2, Giovanni Martinotti2, Silvia Fraticelli2, Massimo di Giannantonio2. 1. NHS, Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service for Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital "G. Mazzini", ASL 4, Teramo, Italy. 2. Department of Neurosciences and Imaging, Chair of Psychiatry, University "G. D'Annunzio" Chieti, Italy. 3. Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK - Department of Clinical Neurosciences/DIMSC, Section of Psychiatry, Polytechnic University of Ancona, Italy. 4. Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK - "Villa S. Giuseppe" Clinic, Hermanas Hospitalarias, Ascoli Piceno, Italy. 5. NHS, Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service of Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital "Madonna Del Soccorso", San Benedetto del Tronto (AP), Italy. 6. NHS, Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service of Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital "San Camillo de Lellis", Rieti, Italy. 7. NHS, Department of Mental Health, Pescara, Italy. 8. Department of Psychiatry, Federico II University, Naples, Italy. 9. Department of Psychiatry, University of Foggia, Italy. 10. NHS, Mental Health Service, DSB 45, Naples, Italy. 11. NHS, Department of Mental Health, Mental Health Service, Cassino (FR), Italy. 12. Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, Unit of Psychiatry, Sant'Andrea University Hospital, Rome, Italy. 13. Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, Italy. 14. Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Department of Geriatrics, Neuroscience and Orthopedics, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is frequently complicated by the occurrence of depressive symptoms, anhedonia, obsessions and compulsions, suicidal ideation, and substance abuse, that causes exacerbations and remissions and, in several cases, sustained morbidity and disability. AIM: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of paliperidone palmitate once-monthly long-acting injection (PP-LAI) mainly on "non-core" symptoms in persons with recent diagnosis schizophrenia, during a follow-up period of almost 12 months (T1) in the context of the "real world" everyday clinical practice. RESULTS: Concerning core symptoms of schizophrenia, PP-LAI was effective in reducing all symptoms at T1 as measured by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), including depressive symptoms, and increased the functioning. Moreover, concerning the non-core symptoms of schizophrenia, PP-LAI treatment was effective in reducing scores of anhedonia, suicidal ideation and obsessive-compulsive symptoms at T1. However, the levels of alexithymia remained relatively stable, even if reduced. DISCUSSION: The present retrospective, multicenter, non-sponsored, collaborative study showed that early PP-LAI treatment was effective in improving almost all the core dimensions and "non-core" symptoms of schizophrenia, and this may have positive repercussions on both functioning and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: PP-LAI treatment should be offered earlier as possible and was effective on "non-core" symptoms of schizophrenia at follow-up, but had a little effect on alexithymia. However, study' limitations must be considered and future researches are needed to confirm these interesting findings.
BACKGROUND:Schizophrenia is frequently complicated by the occurrence of depressive symptoms, anhedonia, obsessions and compulsions, suicidal ideation, and substance abuse, that causes exacerbations and remissions and, in several cases, sustained morbidity and disability. AIM: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of paliperidone palmitate once-monthly long-acting injection (PP-LAI) mainly on "non-core" symptoms in persons with recent diagnosis schizophrenia, during a follow-up period of almost 12 months (T1) in the context of the "real world" everyday clinical practice. RESULTS: Concerning core symptoms of schizophrenia, PP-LAI was effective in reducing all symptoms at T1 as measured by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), including depressive symptoms, and increased the functioning. Moreover, concerning the non-core symptoms of schizophrenia, PP-LAI treatment was effective in reducing scores of anhedonia, suicidal ideation and obsessive-compulsive symptoms at T1. However, the levels of alexithymia remained relatively stable, even if reduced. DISCUSSION: The present retrospective, multicenter, non-sponsored, collaborative study showed that early PP-LAI treatment was effective in improving almost all the core dimensions and "non-core" symptoms of schizophrenia, and this may have positive repercussions on both functioning and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS:PP-LAI treatment should be offered earlier as possible and was effective on "non-core" symptoms of schizophrenia at follow-up, but had a little effect on alexithymia. However, study' limitations must be considered and future researches are needed to confirm these interesting findings.