Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the declared management methods used byPolish psychiatrists among a group of people at high risk of psychosis development.
Method: Management methods used among two kinds of UHR persons, i.e., (A) attenuated or brief, limited psychotic symptoms group and (B) state and trait risk factors group, were assessed during nationwide psychiatric conferences held in 2009, which gathered Polish psychiatrists practicing throughout the whole country.
Results: (A) For those experiencing attenuated or brief, limited psychotic symptoms (APS or BLIPS), the vast majority of respondents (88%) declared using pharmacological intervention. Moreover, all doctors choosing pharmacotherapy declared using antipsychotic drugs (AP). Second generation antipsychotics (SGA) (84%), i.e., risperidone (48%) and olanzapine (32%) were medications to be selected as the first choice. Most doctors declared that they use medium doses ofAP (46%) for minimum 6-12 months (31%). (B) Among the group of people with state and trait risk factors, the vast majority of respondents (81%) also declared using AP: mostly SGA (75%) and typical AP (20%). Medications used as the first choice in this group were also mostly risperidone and olanzapine (44% and 28% respectively). 65% of the doctors declared using low doses of antipsychotics for the minimum of 6-12 months (39%).
Conclusions: A high percentage of Polish psychiatrists state that they use pharmacological intervention in persons at high risk of developing psychosis. Preferred medications are mainly SGA (risperidone and olanzapine), prescribed in medium and low doses for a minimum of 6-12 months.