Factors associated with first- versus second-generation long-acting antipsychotics prescribed under ordinary clinical practice in Italy

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201371
• Publication Date: 2018-08-02T14:27:33Z
• Authors: Giovanni Ostuzzi; Maria Angela Mazzi; Samira Terlizzi; Federico Bertolini; Andrea Aguglia; Francesco Bartoli; Paola Bortolaso; Camilla Callegari; Mariarita Caroleo; Giuseppe Carrà; Mariangela Corbo; Armando D’Agostino; Chiara Gastaldon; Claudio Lucii; Fabio Magliocco; Giovanni Martinotti; Michela Nosé; Edoardo Giuseppe ...; Davide Papola; Marco Piero Picci...; Alberto Piccoli; Marianna Purgato; Tommaso Tabacchi; Giulia Turrini; Mirella Ruggeri; Corrado Barbui
• Keywords: Paliperidone; Aripiprazole

For many years, long-acting intramuscular (LAI) antipsychotics have been prescribed predominantly to chronic and severe patients, as a last resort when other treatments failed. Recently, broader earlier use of LAIs, particularly second-generation has emphasized. To date, few studies attempted frame how this change in prescribing took place real-world practice. Therefore, study aimed describe the clinical features patients with explore possible differences between first- second-generations LAIs under ordinary practice Italy.The STAR Network "Depot" Study is an observational, longitudinal, multicenter involving 35 centers Italy. In cross-sectional phase, were consecutively recruited assessed over period 12 months. Descriptive statistics multivariable logistic regression analyses employed.Of 451 61% males. The level social working functioning was heterogeneous, severity disease. Seventy-two per cent had diagnosis schizophrenia spectrum. Seventy antipsychotic (SGA) (mostly paliperidone, aripiprazole risperidone). Compared first-generation (FGA) SGA more often younger; employed; spectrum or bipolar disorder; higher levels affective symptoms; fewer LAI prescriptions past.LAIs' practices appear be flexible compared past, although mostly restricted LAIs.