Prisca Weiser

Effects of polypharmacy on outcome in patients with schizophrenia in routine psychiatric treatment.

Längle G, Steinert T, Weiser P, Schepp W, Jaeger S, Pfiffner C, Frasch K, Eschweiler GW, Messer T, Croissant D, Becker T, Kilian R. Effects of polypharmacy on outcome in patients with schizophrenia in routine psychiatric treatment.

Psychotropic drug treatment, clinical characteristics and cognitive processing speed in patients with schizophrenia: results from the ELAN study.

INTRODUCTION Psychotropic drug combinations (PDC) are common in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia but there is little research regarding the effects of PDC on cognition. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of antipsychotic monotherapy and various types of PDC on cognitive processing speed (CPS). METHODS ELAN is a 24-month multi-site prospective observational controlled trial following up 374 patients with schizophrenia under routine treatment conditions following discharge from inpatient treatment. The propensity score method, multinomial logistic regression analyses and mixed effects regression models were used. RESULTS CPS correlated significantly with PANSS and GAF scores and improved over time in the monotherapy group. Negative effects of some PDC (antipsychotics + tranquilizers/antipsychotics+at least 2 other psychopharmacological subclasses, sedative/anticholinergic drugs/high adjusted antipsychotic dose) lost significance after controlling for clinical characteristics. DISCUSSION Indications for PDC should be examined with care although, in the present study, effects on cognition were small.

Identification of psychopathological course trajectories in schizophrenia.

Course trajectory analyses have been performed primarily for treatment response in acute episodes of schizophrenic disorders. As yet, corresponding data for the long-term course are lacking. Within a multicenter prospective observational study, 268 patients with schizophrenia were assessed at discharge from hospital and followed up after 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. A latent class growth analysis was performed on the scores from the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). A two-class conditional latent class model showed the best data fit (Entropy: 0.924). The model divided the sample into a group with amelioration in all PANSS subscales (60%) and a group with stable positive/negative and deteriorating general psychopathology symptoms (40%). Global functioning (GAF score), gender, age, living situation and involuntary admission predicted course trajectory class membership. The model was predictive of significant differences between the two groups in health care service costs and quality of life. The results underline the heterogeneous course of the illness, which ranged from amelioration to deterioration over a 2-year period. Statistical models such as trajectory analysis could help to identify more homogenous subtypes in schizophrenia.

Ungesunder Lebensstil bei Patienten einer psychosomatischen Poliklinik und Konsilambulanz

Patients with mental disorders have an increased risk for somatic diseases. Especially life style risk factors contribute to this increased risk. In order to identify targets for preventive measures, we aimed to determine the prevalence of an unhealthy lifestyle in a clinical sample and to analyze associations with severity of mental disorders and somatic complaints. We analyzed the medical records of n=1 919 outpatients, who were treated between 2009-2011 in the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy of the University Medical Center Mainz. 62.4% of the patients were physically inactive, 33.2% were smokers and 17.4% were obese. Lifestyle risk factors were associated with increased symptom burden and impairment. Smoking was strongly associated with more previous psychiatric or psychosomatic inpatient treatments. These results indicate an urgent need for targeting health behavior more rigorously in the treatment of patients with common mental disorders.

PW01-186 - Effects of longterm treatment with atypical neuroleptics for patients with schizophrenia (ELAN): medication use, adherence, functional impairment, quality of life

Objectives Collecting prospective data on medication adherence, course of illness, course of treatment, cost effectiveness and quality of life among patients with schizophrenia under the German health system. Methods The ELAN study was conducted as a multi-centre, non-interventional observation study. 374 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (ICD-10 F2) who had been discharged with a medication of quetiapine (N=183), olanzapine (N=91) or risperidone (N=100) were included. Follow-up interviews were conducted after 6,12,18 and 24 months. Applied instruments comprised PANSS, MARS-S, EPS-M, AIMS-S, GAF, ZST and a questionnaire for quality of life. Results For each follow-up, at least 80% of the original sample could be included. After two years, between 39% and 43% of patients continued to take the drug prescribed at discharge. Only between 4% and 7% of patients received no neuroleptic treatment in the last 6 months, respectively. The variety of drugs used increased during the course. Only small differences could be found regarding the defined outcome measures (PANSS, GAF, rehospitalisation rate) and side effects. Changes in medication were mostly due to insufficient efficacy or side effects. Doctors recommendations had an important influence on patients’ decisions. Conclusions Under conditions of routine treatment, medication adherence was much greater and differences between drugs were smaller than reported in randomised controlled clinical trials. Taking into account the low sample selection bias and the small percentage of lost-to-follow-up subjects, this study provides some new insight into routine clinical treatment and outcomes in patients with schizophrenia.

W05-03 - A Multi-Centre Pragmatic Trial of Antipsychotic Drug Treatment

The ELAN study is a prospective multi centre observational trial on the effectiveness and safety of long-term antipsychotic treatment of people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders with quetiapine in comparison to olanzapine and risperidone under real world treatment conditions. 374 adult persons with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder prescribed antipsychotic maintenance therapy with quetiapine, olanzapine or risperidone were included at discharge from inpatient treatment. Psychotropic regimen, psychopathological symptoms, general and cognitive functioning, negative side-effects and quality of life were assessed before discharge and at 6, 12, 18 and 24 month follow-up assessments. Intention-to-treat analyses and crossover analyses were conducted by mixed-effects regression models including random linear time effects and time x treatment effects, controlling for baseline differences and additional psychotropic medication and using propensity scores to control for selection bias. As indicated by significant linear time effects the patients improved with regard to psychopathological symptoms, general functioning, subjective quality of life and cognitive processing speed. No change of extrapyramidal motor side-effects, body mass index or waist circumference was obtained. The lack of any significant time x treatment interaction effects indicated no differences in the safety or effectiveness between the three antipsychotics. Nevertheless, the average hospital admission rate of patients receiving olanzapine was lower in comparison to patients receiving quetiapine or risperidone.

P01-583 - The helps toolkit - a tool to promote the physical health of residents in psychiatric facilities across Europe

Introduction People with a mental disorder are at increased risk for physical illness and therefore their risk of premature death is raised. An unhealthy lifestyle, living conditions, medication side-effects and a lack of physical health monitoring are regarded as the main causes of high somatic morbidity. But up to now only little research has addressed the physical co-morbidity in mentally ill. At present, there are no specific policies to improve the health status of residents in mental health care facilities. Objectives / methods Against this background a multi-disciplinary network of experts from 15 European countries was set up. Working together with researchers, stakeholders, professionals, networks, practitioners, and relevant organizations, the HELPS network developed a “physical health promotion toolkit” for routine application in a wide range of mental health care facilities across Europe. The HELPS toolkit intends to empower patients and staff to identify the most relevant risk factors in their specific context and subsequently select the most appropriate action out of a range of defined health promoting interventions. In doing so, the toolkit takes into account the heterogeneity of mental disorders, the high number of somatic problems, aspects of lifestyle, environment, medical care system, personal goals of patients and their motivation for health behavior. Results / conclusions The poster presents the HELPS toolkit. It illustrates the individual components of the tool and the processes of its implementation and evaluation. First results of the pilot study concerning the feasibility of the toolkit will be presented and discussed.

P03-68 - Are there effects of the type of antipsychotic medication on the subjective quality of life in patients suffering from schizophrenia?

We investigated whether the type of antipsychotic treatment has an impact on patients’ subjective quality of life (QoL). In a prospective naturalistic long-term study, 374 patients meeting ICD-10 criteria for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were examined biannually over a two-year period with regards to QoL, psychopathology, social functioning, use of medical and psychosocial services, compliance, side effects and current neuroleptic treatment. QoL was assessed by the Berliner Lebensqualitatsprofil (BeLP), an adaption of the Lancashire Quality of Life Profile. First examination took place two weeks around discharge from a psychiatric clinic. At study entry, all participants were receiving neuroleptic medication of either quetiapine, risperidone or olanzapine. Mixed regression analysis taking into account the unbalanced panel structure of the data and adjusted for selection bias by means of propensity scores were used for data analysis. Overall quality of life improved continuously during the two years observed period regardless of the type of neuroleptic. A small, but significant difference emerged when comparing quetiapine monotherapy treatment with olanzapine monotherapy or with a combination treatment of conventional and atypical antipsychotics. QoL of patients treated with olanzapine was generally worse than that of patients treated with quetiapine but improved slightly more over the course of time. In total time and type of medication explained only small proportions of variance in QoL. Type of neuroleptic had only marginal impact on the subjective QoL of our sample. In order to explain changes in quality of life, research on social and individual factors seems to be more promising.

P02-126 - The physical co-morbidity of people with a mental disorder: variation, causes, risk factors and prevention strategies across 14 European countries

Objective Little is known about the physical co-morbidity in mentally ill living in psychiatric and social health care facilities with regard to variation, causes, risk factors and prevention strategies. Aim of this study was to determine patients’ and professionals’ perceptions, attitudes and thoughts of (i) co-morbid physical health problems and illness, (ii) risk factors and causes of somatic problems and (iii) prevention measures across Europe. Methods A total of 52 focus groups in 14 European countries were conducted. Participants were recruited from psychiatric and social health care facilities. Data were content analyzed deductively and inductively. Results The physical health problems that were often mentioned were weight problems, diabetes, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal problems, problems of the circulatory system, and general aches and pains. Regarding the causes of somatic problems and illnesses, focus groups repeatedly emphasized side-effects from medications. Besides treatment-related factors, country-specific aspects also were mentioned, mainly in the field of the living environment. Findings concerning “prevention” demonstrated the greatest distinctions between the participant groups, particularly with regard to the implementation and realization of health promotion interventions. Discussions revealed that patients preferred active learning (hands-on experiences) coupled with group classes for education and social support. Conclusions Focus groups identified behavioural, environmental and iatrogenic health risks. Efforts need to be directed toward interventions for physical illness prevention and health promotion on the background of the heterogeneity of mental disorders and the multitude of physical problems, and need to be based on an understanding of residents’ cultural beliefs and life situations.