Long – acting injectable aripiprazole in patients with psychosis is associated with improved quality of life, better general clinical outcome and fewer hospitalizations

• Published in: European psychiatry 2024-04, Vol.67 (S1), p.S729-S729
• Main Authors: Koiliari, E. I., Mouzas, I., Alevizopoulos, G., Lesch, O., Walter, H., Pasparakis, E. L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alcohol use; Antipsychotics; Bipolar disorder; Comorbidity; Hospitalization; Hypothesis testing; Patients; Psychosis; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0924-9338; 1778-3585
• DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2024.1516

IntroductionAripiprazole, a D2 receptor partial agonist is suggested to enhance Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) dopamine functioning resulting to an improvement of working memory and GABA transmission related to social functioning. The LAI form of the medication is documented to improve the long-term adherence of the patients resulting in a better assessment of the effects of the drug on behavioral parameters that require a longer time to evaluate.ObjectivesHypothesis testing: “Aripiprazole LAI antipsychotic treatment is associated with i) reduced hospitalizations, ii) improved quality of life and iii) patient functioning”.Methods65 patients participated (Male to Female ratio corresponds to 2:1). 44 of them, the community population manifested psychosis (23 schizophrenia and 21 patients bipolar disorder with psychotic features). The median age was 41 years. 31.8% had dual diagnosis of psychosis and alcohol use disorders, while 25% had dual diagnosis of psychosis and Cannabis Use disorder. 77.3% were on aripiprazole LAI. 21 patients with BD I were prisoners at the Penitentiary of Neapolis of Lasithi of Crete. Median age was 36 years (all men). 90.5% had comorbidity of bipolar disorder type I (BD-I) and alcohol use disorders. 95.2% had comorbidity of BD – I and Cannabis Use Disorder. All were medicated by aripiprazole LAI 400mg/month. For the evaluation of our hypotheses the instruments WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire and the CGI-S scale were used. The quality of life, functionality, and number of hospitalizations were compared in each patient, before the initiation of the LAI medication and during the active treatment period. The minimum of follow-up period was 6 months.ResultsIn 44 patients (in community) hospitalizations decreased statistically significantly from 1.3±1.9 to 0.1±0.4 (Paired Samples Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test p-value