Remission and relapse in the ambulatory treatment of patients with schizophrenia. Outcomes at 3 years

Abstract

Introduction. Three year data collected in the frame of the SOHO study within Spain were used to evaluate antipsychotic treatment outcomes by analyzing remission and relapse as well as the factors influencing them.

Methods. The SOHO was a prospective, long-term, observational study of the outcomes of schizophrenia treatment in ambulatory who initiated therapy or who changed to a new antipsychotic drug performed in 10 European countries, with a focus on olanzapine. This article reports the attainment of international schizophrenia clinical remission and relapse criteria and the associated correlates in these patients.

Results and conclusions. A total of 2,020 patients were recruited in Spain. Almost 2/3 (60.1%) of the patients met the criteria for clinical remission. Factors that influence the likelihood of remission were identified, such as gender, baseline clinical and/or functional status, time since treatment initiation, treatment with olanzapine versus oral typical antipsychotics, duration of treatment, gender or the need for concomitant anxiolytics. Relapse occurred in 18.7% of patients. Treatment with quetiapine or the prescription of anticholinergics was associated with a greater risk of relapse.

Conclusions. These results highlight some prognostic factors of the course of schizophrenia and underscore the importance of the antipsychotic choice and its maintenance to achieve favorable long-term clinical outcomes in routine practice.