Self- and caregiver-perceived disability, subjective well-being, quality of life and psychopathology improvement in long-acting antipsychotic treatments: a 2-year follow-up study

Objective: Switching to long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic maintenance treatment (AMT) repre- sents a valuable strategy for schizophrenia. In a recovery-oriented approach, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) such as perceived disability, subjective well-being, and quality of life cannot be neglected. Methods: Forty clinically stable outpatients with schizophrenia treated with oral second-generation anti- psychotics were enrolled at the time of switching to the equivalent dose of LAI. 35 subjects completed this 2-year longitudinal, prospective, open-label, observational study. Patients were assessed at baseline, after 1 year, and after 2 years of LAI-AMT, using psychometric scales (Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale, PANSS; Young Mania Rating Scale, YMRS; Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, MADRS), PROs (Subjective Well-Being under Neuroleptics short form, SWN-K; Short Form-36 health survey, SF-36; 12-item World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule, WHODAS 2.0), and caregiver-reported outcomes (12-item WHODAS 2.0). Results: No psychotic relapses were observed. Psychopathology measures (PANSS total and subscales – excluding negative symptoms), mood symptoms (YMRS, MADRS), perceived disability (patient- and care- giver-administered WHODAS 2.0), subjective well-being (SWN-K), and quality of life (SF-36) showed a con- comitant amelioration after 1 year, without further significant variations. Discussion: Switching to LAI-AMT may decrease perceived impairment, and increase subjective well- being and quality of life in clinically stable outpatients with schizophrenia.