Brief intermittent neuroleptic prophylaxis for selected schizophrenic out-patients

Out-patients' perceptions of the clinical and psychosocial effects of neuroleptic medication

While research into the effectiveness of neuroleptic medication consistently demonstrates its value in improving psychotic symptoms, and in the prevention of relapse, the treatment continues to generate controversy. Indeed, McClelland (1989) has recently asserted that this treatment of choice is “an indispensable evil”; “indispensable” by virtue of its clinical effectiveness, and “evil” because of the wide range of adverse and distressing side effects experienced by patients.

A survey of the attitudes of chronic psychiatric patients living in the community toward their medication

Because non-compliance with antipsychotic drug therapy is both common and associated with a substantially increased risk of acute relapse, depot medication must be preferred for most schizophrenic out-patients. Yet there is a perception that depot medication is unpopular among patients. In the survey of out-patients reported here, the great majority of patients receiving either oral or depot neuroleptics (with or without oral augmentation) would, given a free choice, elect to continue with their present dose form (94% and 87%, respectively). In virtually all cases, the choice of route was made by the treating physician and readily accepted by the patient. These findings suggest that physicians should more often recommend and prescribe depot medication when antipsychotic maintenance therapy is indicated.