Introduction. The drop-out rate studies can be considered among the most reliable methods to estimate the effectiveness of drugs in everyday clinical practice. Aim. Estimation of effectiveness of the atypical antipsychotics through the study of drop-out rates; examination of the causes of drop-out and response predictors. Material and Method. The data concerning 793 patients who have benefited from the direct distribution of atypical antipsychotics at the Mental Health Department (DSM) of Massa Carrara from the 01/01/2000 to the 31/12/2002. Results. The data of 56 patients in treatment with clozapine, 339 with risperidone, 289 with olanzapine and 109 to you with quetiapine was examined. 40.9% of the patients have interrupted the treatment. The patients treated with quetiapine and clozapine have demonstrated the lowest drop-out rate. In patients treated with olanzapine, quetiapine and risperidone the onset age was lower in the drop-out group. The level of instruction was more elevated in the drop-out group of patients treated with olanzapine and risperidone. The bipolar patients continue the therapy with olanzapine and risperidone for longer, while quetiapine and clozapine result more effective in patients affected by disorders of schizophrenic spectrum. The percentage of ulterior interruptions of therapy for specific side-effects are similar in the four groups. Conclusions. The tallied differences, given the heterogeneity of the sample, the absence of standardized data collection systems, can only be sprones for hypotheses that need confirmation. Anyhow this research, carried out in authentic conditions, outside of the rigid protocols of the randomized clinical research, has supplied new information on profile of effectiveness and tolerability of atypical antipsychotics.
Atypical antipsychotics: Drop-out as efficacy indicator
LENZI, ALESSANDRO
2006-01-01
Abstract
Introduction. The drop-out rate studies can be considered among the most reliable methods to estimate the effectiveness of drugs in everyday clinical practice. Aim. Estimation of effectiveness of the atypical antipsychotics through the study of drop-out rates; examination of the causes of drop-out and response predictors. Material and Method. The data concerning 793 patients who have benefited from the direct distribution of atypical antipsychotics at the Mental Health Department (DSM) of Massa Carrara from the 01/01/2000 to the 31/12/2002. Results. The data of 56 patients in treatment with clozapine, 339 with risperidone, 289 with olanzapine and 109 to you with quetiapine was examined. 40.9% of the patients have interrupted the treatment. The patients treated with quetiapine and clozapine have demonstrated the lowest drop-out rate. In patients treated with olanzapine, quetiapine and risperidone the onset age was lower in the drop-out group. The level of instruction was more elevated in the drop-out group of patients treated with olanzapine and risperidone. The bipolar patients continue the therapy with olanzapine and risperidone for longer, while quetiapine and clozapine result more effective in patients affected by disorders of schizophrenic spectrum. The percentage of ulterior interruptions of therapy for specific side-effects are similar in the four groups. Conclusions. The tallied differences, given the heterogeneity of the sample, the absence of standardized data collection systems, can only be sprones for hypotheses that need confirmation. Anyhow this research, carried out in authentic conditions, outside of the rigid protocols of the randomized clinical research, has supplied new information on profile of effectiveness and tolerability of atypical antipsychotics.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
