Paliperidone palmitate every three months (PP3M) is expected to facilitate patient's treatment compliance and satisfaction. The objective here was to compare PP3M treatment compliance and satisfaction, effectiveness and tolerability, with paliperidone palmitate-monthly (PP1M) in patients with severe schizophrenia. A 24-month prospective, open-label study of patients with severe schizophrenia treated with PP3M after at least 2 years of stabilization with PP1M (n = 84) was carried out. Treatment satisfaction was assessed with the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM) and with a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Effectiveness was measured with psychiatric hospital admissions and the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) scale. Tolerability assessments included laboratory tests, weight and adverse effects. Reasons for treatment discontinuation were recorded. CGI-S significantly improved after 24 months. Three patients changed back to PP1M due to adverse effects, and four were hospitalized. There were neither abandoning nor significant changes in weight or biological parameters, and lower incidence of side effects, with PP3M treatment. TSQM and VAS scales increased. No differences were found related to doses. Apart from somewhat improvement in treatment adherence, effectiveness, and tolerability, patients with severe schizophrenia lengthy treated with PP1M showed more satisfaction with PP3M, even those who needed high doses to get clinical stabilization.
Keywords: antipsychotic; long-acting injectable; paliperidone palmitate every three months; schizophrenia; treatment compliance; treatment effectiveness; treatment satisfaction.