Comprehensive Psychiatry (May 2021)
Impact on carer burden when stable patients with schizophrenia transitioned from 1-monthly to 3-monthly paliperidone palmitate
Abstract
Rationale: Reducing the frequency of long-acting injectable antipsychotic medication may reduce carer burden. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of reduced frequency of long-acting injectable antipsychotic medication on carer burden in stable patients with schizophrenia. Methods: Carer burden was assessed using the Involvement Evaluation Questionnaire (IEQ) within a 52-week, prospective, single-arm, non-randomised, open-label, international, multicentre study evaluating the impact of transitioning stable patients with schizophrenia to paliperidone palmitate 3-monthly (PP3M) from paliperidone palmitate 1-monthly (PP1M). Results: 159 carers completed the IEQ (mean [standard deviation, SD] age: 54.8 [12.8] years); 52.2% were the patients' parent and > 50% had >32 h/week of patient contact. At baseline, mean [SD] IEQ total score was in the lower range (23.8 [12.6]), reflecting patient stabilisation. At last observation carried forward (LOCF) endpoint, the IEQ total score decreased by a mean (95% CI) of −4.0 (−5.9, −2.1), indicating a significant overall reduction in carer burden (P 70) at baseline and LOCF endpoint, and with the patient being part of the carer's household. Shorter disease duration correlated with better general health of carers at LOCF endpoint. Conclusion: Reducing the frequency of antipsychotic medication administration in stable patients with schizophrenia by switching from PP1M to PP3M may reduce carer burden.
