Clinical and therapeutic characterization of a portuguese sample of patients with schizophrenia

Abstract

Introduction. The development of Mental Health policies for psychiatric disorders should be driven by a correct knowledge of the socio-demographic, clinical and therapeutic realities of the disease. There is paucity of detailed studies in the Portuguese population that does not allow a direct comparation with other European countries. The objective of the present study is to characterize the sociodemograhic and clinical characteristics of schizophrenia patients in Portugal and the therapeutic patterns.

Methods. This multicentric, cross sectional, non interventional study was designed to describe the demographic and clinical data of patients with schizophrenia (n=474), and also the demographic and professional characteristics of their treating psychiatrists.

Results. The most frequent diagnosis found was paranoid schizophrenia (54%), with comorbid psychiatric conditions in 39,7% and somatic diseases in 28.4% of the patients. About half the patients were on second generation antipsychotics (SGS) as principal therapy, although haloperidol has been the most frequent drug prescribed as so (35.9 %). 59.51 % of the patients were on antipsychotic monotherapy, and 45% on a depot formulation. Antipsychotic dose vary widely, and they are quite often prescribed on off label doses.

Discussion. Our sample is similar to others found in naturalistic studies, however slightly different from clinical trials. In general, patients with schizophrenia tend to be treated with SGA, although have a higher chance to be on a long-term formulation and to be on polytherapy than in other studies. Somatic diseases are maybe under diagnosed and are undertreated.