The Preference Survey for Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics of Community-Dwelling Patients with Schizophrenia and their Caregivers.

Lee, Yoong; Lee, Nam Young; Youn, Tak; Choi, Yong Seoung; Kim, Yong Sik; Chung, In Won

doi:2013.16.1.14

Korean J Schizophr Res > Volume 16(1); 2013 > Article

Original Article

Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research 2013;16(1):14-24.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.16946/kjsr.2013.16.1.14 Published online April 30, 2013.

The Preference Survey for Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics of Community-Dwelling Patients with Schizophrenia and their Caregivers.

Yoong Lee, Nam Young Lee, Tak Youn, Yong Seoung Choi, Yong Sik Kim, In Won Chung

¹Department of Neuropsychiatry and Institute of Clinical Psychopharmacology, Dongguk University International Hospital, Goyang, Korea. ciw@duih.org
²St. Andrew's Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Icheon, Korea.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The prescription rates of long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics are very low around 1% in Korea. This study was aimed to explore the preference of LAIs in patients with schizophrenia, who are currently living in community, and their caregivers.
METHODS
The patients, diagnosed with schizophrenia by DSM-IV TR and were registered in the 31 mental health centers of Gyeonggi province and their caregivers were inquired the knowledge of the LAIs. The questionnaires contained information such as demographic characteristics, history of psychiatric treatment, and so on.
RESULTS
About 5,318 were registered in 31 community mental health centers of Gyeonggi province in February 2012. The questionnaires of 614 patients and 365 caregivers were gathered from 20 community mental health centers. The mean ages (+/-SD) of patients and caregivers were 41.9 (+/-10.2) and 62.2 (+/-13.4) years old, respectively. 272 patients (44.6%) had experienced the discontinuation of medications without doctor's consent. 217 patients (35.9%) and 97 caregivers (27.1%) knew about the LAIs. The preference rates for LAIs were 35.2% and 46.8% for the patients and caregivers, respectively.
CONCLUSION
There is still huge discrepancy between the preference and the real prescriptions of LAIs in community-dwelling patients and their caregivers, much higher than in those of hospital settings. This study suggests that both patients and caregivers registered in the community mental health centers have a strong commitment to live in the community. The obstacles against the benefits of LAIs need to be resolved.

Key Words: Schizophrenia · Long-acting injectable antipsychotics · Community mental health centers