Association between adherence to and persistence with atypical antipsychotics and psychiatric relapse among US Medicaid-enrolled patients with schizophrenia

Source: Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research Area: Evidence > Medicines Management > References Objective: To assess the association between adherence and persistence with second-generation oral antipsychotics (SGOAs), psychiatric-related relapse and healthcare utilisation among patients with schizophrenia experiencing two or more psychiatric-related relapses. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the US Medicaid Multi-State Database for 2004-2008.  Patients with schizophrenia (aged 18-64) with two or more psychiatric-related relapses within 1 year after SGOA initiation were selected.  Associations between a dichotomous measure of adherence and persistence with SGOAs and psychiatric-related relapse and healthcare utilisation were assessed using unadjusted and covariate-adjusted regression models.  No adjustment was made for multiplicity. Findings: Study cohort consisted of 3714 patients with mean age of 42.6 years.  Overall, 45% of patients were adherent and 50% persistent with SGOAs.  Unadjusted and covariate-adjusted analysis results suggested ...
Source: NeLM - Mental Health - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: news