Amélioration fonctionnelle sous palmitate de paliperidone à doses flexibles chez des patients aigus ou non aigus atteints de schizophrénie, après échec d’un traitement par antipsychotiques oraux

Objectifs

Évaluer l’amélioration fonctionnelle chez des patients atteints de schizophrénie sous palmitate de paliperidone (PP) à doses flexibles après échec d’un traitement par antipsychotiques oraux.

Méthodes

Analyse menée dans deux sous-groupes de patients atteints de schizophrénie : aigus (n = 202) et non aigus (n = 593) après échec d’un traitement par antipsychotiques oraux, inclus dans une étude internationale, prospective, de six mois.

Critères d’évaluation

Changement du score total à la PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale), à la PSP (Personal and Psychosocial Performance scale), et à la Mini-ICF-APP (Mini International Classification of Functionality, Disability and Health Rating for Activity and Participation Disorders in Psychological Illnesses).

Résultats

Les deux sous-groupes ont présenté une amélioration significative du score total à la PANSS : de 98,5 ± 20,1 à l’inclusion à 67,4 ± 24,0 à la fin de l’étude (diminution moyenne = −31,0 ± 29,0) chez les patients aigus et de 71,5 ± 14,6 à 59,7 ± 18,1 (diminution moyenne = −11,7 ± 15,9) chez les patients non aigus. Cette réponse thérapeutique était associée à une augmentation significative du score total à la PSP de 43,9 ± 15,0 à 62,9 ± 17,1 (amélioration moyenne = 19,0 ± 18,7, p <0,0001) chez les patients aigus, et de 58,1 ± 13,4 à 66,1 ± 15,7 (amélioration moyenne =8,0 ± 14,0, p < 0,0001) chez les patients non aigus. Il existait une amélioration significative du score à la Mini-ICF-APP qui diminuait de 26,8 ± 8,5 à 18,5 ± 9,8 (diminution moyenne = −8,0 ± 10,4, p < 0,0001) chez les patients aigus et de 19,8 ± 7,9 à 15,9 ± 8,8 (diminution moyenne = −4,0 ± 7,5, p < 0,0001) chez les patients non aigus.

Conclusions

L’amélioration symptomatique sous PP à doses flexibles chez des patients aigus ou non-aigus atteints de schizophrénie après échec d’un traitement par antipsychotique oral s’est accompagnée d’une amélioration fonctionnelle cliniquement significative.

Psychiatrists' perceptions of the clinical importance, assessment and management of patient functioning in schizophrenia in Europe, the Middle East and Africa

BACKGROUND

It has been estimated that as many as two thirds of patients with schizophrenia are unable to perform basic personal and social roles or activities. Occupational functioning and social functioning, as well as independent living, are considered as core domains of patient functioning. Improvement in patient functioning has also been recognized as an important treatment goal in guidelines and an important outcome by regulatory agencies. Nevertheless, information is lacking on how these aspects are being considered by psychiatrists across the world and how they are being assessed and managed.

METHODS

The 'Europe, the Middle East and Africa functioning survey' was designed to canvas opinions of psychiatrists across these regions to ascertain their perceptions of the clinical importance, assessment and management of functioning amongst their patients with schizophrenia. The survey comprised 17 questions and was conducted from March to April 2011 in 42 countries. Data collected included the demographics of respondents and their opinions regarding personal and social functioning in patients with schizophrenia.

RESULTS

Results were obtained from 4,163 clinicians. Psychiatrists estimated that more than two thirds (70%) of their patients with schizophrenia showed impaired or very poor levels of functioning. The majority of psychiatrists (92%) believed that personal and social functioning was an important treatment goal for patients with schizophrenia, and 91% believed it was an important goal for patients' families. The majority of psychiatrists (55%) assess the personal and social functioning of their patient at each visit; however, 81% reported that they determine the level of functioning through clinical interview and not by using a specific assessment scale. To manage personal and social functioning in their patients, 26% of psychiatrists prefer pharmacological interventions, whereas 46% prefer psychosocial interventions.

CONCLUSION

Psychiatrists recognize that functioning is impaired/very poor in patients with schizophrenia, and there is still an important need to address functioning as a main treatment goal for patients with schizophrenia.

Validation of the Personal and Social Performance (PSP) Scale in a German sample of acutely ill patients with schizophrenia

In trying to more broadly define outcome in the efficient long-term treatment of patients with schizophrenia it is necessary to consider not only a reduction in psychopathological symptoms but also a successful psychosocial reintegration. Thus, a more exact assessment of psychosocial functioning is needed. Since the GAF (Global Assessment of Functioning) scale and the SOFAS (Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale) are less operationalized and confuse psychosocial facts with psychopathological symptoms, the Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scale was developed [Morosini, P.L., Magliano, L., Brambilla, L., Ugolini, S., Pioli, R. (2000). Development, reliability and acceptability of a new version of the DSM-IV Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) to assess routine social functioning. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 1001, 323-329.] containing the four main areas "socially useful activities, personal and social relationships, self-care, as well as disturbing and aggressive behaviour". Validation of the PSP scale was conducted in a sample of 62 patients with acute schizophrenia. Rating instruments were PSP, GAF, SOFAS, PANSS, CGI, and Mini-ICF-P (Mini-ICF-Rating for Mental Disorders). The results showed good reliability with alpha=.64-.84, high test-retest reliability as well as good inter-rater reliability for the PSP scale. Furthermore, PSP proved good validity with high correlations to GAF (r=.91), SOFAS (r=.91), and Mini-ICF-P (r=-.69). The hypothesis that more critically ill patients would show lower scores on PSP than lesser ill patients was only confirmed for PANSS negative symptoms. Thus, the findings prove the PSP scale to be a reliable and valid instrument for assessing social functioning of patients with schizophrenia during the course of treatment as well as in the acute state.