REMISSION AND EMPLOYMENT STATUS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA AND OTHER PSYCHOSES: ONE-YEAR PROSPECTIVE STUDY IN CROATIAN PATIENTS TREATED WITH RISPERIDONE LONG ACTING INJECTION

Background: While numerous studies have confirmed the efficacy of risperidone long-acting injectable (RLAI) on many clinical outcomes in patients with schizophrenia, there is no data regarding its influence on employment status. Subject and methods: This was a 12-month observational study with flexible doses of RLAI on a Croatian population of patients with schizophrenia and other psychoses. Visits were at baseline and after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of treatment. Treatment response was evaluated using Clinical Global Impression of Illness Severity (CGI-S) and Improvement (CGI-I) scales, while remission was defined by 8 items of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Employment status was determined at baseline and at study endpoint. Results: A total of 362 patients were included, with a median age of 37 (interquartile range 29-47) years, 63.5 % were males and 67.4% were hospitalised at baseline. Overall 258 (71.3%) patients completed the study. Improvements in CGI-S scores from baseline were significant (p<0.001) at all visits. Remission criteria were met in 9 (2.5%) patients at baseline, and in 199 (54.9%) at endpoint, while 144 patients (52.7%) achieved symptomatic remission. Female patients were five times more likely to achieve symptomatic remission (OR=5.2; 95%CI=2.64-10.19). At baseline, 74/362 (20.4%) patients were employed, compared to 77/257 (30.0%) at endpoint (p