Search

Nowadays, mental illness can no longer be considered as a mere list of symptoms corresponding to localized brain dysfunctions but rather as a disturbance of the patient's subjectivity. Thus, a solid, qualitative study of patients' subjectivity could represent a useful tool in the complex evaluation of efficacy of pharmacotherapy in schizophrenic persons. In this perspective, authors performed a phenomenological oriented investigation on 49 patients, diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, who were receiving long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic therapy. From data analysis, authors found a positive correlation between general psychopathology and the use of LAI antipsychotic therapies. The present study highlighted the necessity of a careful investigation of patients' subjectivity in a phenomenological way as an irreducible part of both psychopathological and psychopharmacological matters., (Copyright © 1964–2019 by MedWorks Media Inc, Los Angeles, CA All rights reserved. Printed in the United States.)

Despite mixed results found in literature, long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) should offer better efficacy and tolerability, compared to oral antipsychotics due to improved adherence and more stable pharmacokinetics. From this perspective, authors evaluated 153 patients, diagnosed with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder and residing in the province of Varese (Italy), in order to compare oral antipsychotics' and LAIs' efficacy in terms of accesses to emergency room, number and length of hospitalizations. Data analysis showed a substantial reduction in all considered variables after the introduction of long-acting therapy, especially for those who received LAI treatment from disease's onset. Authors emphasised the use of long-acting antipsychotic as first-line treatment in the early stage of disease, since available data seem to confirm the hypothesis of a better prognosis for patients who received antipsychotic depot from illness's onset.