T167. QUALITATIVE DIFFERENCES IN LONG ACTING INJECTABLE ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATIONS AMONG SCHIZOPHRENIA PATIENTS

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this presentation is to investigate qualitative differences associated with treatment of Schizophrenia spectrum disorder patients with long acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics, including adverse effects and efficacy. METHODS: Literature around LAI antipsychotics and their comparative data was reviewed and evaluated via all electronic databases up to December 2018. RESULTS: Metabolic, hepatic and cardiovascular complications in olanzapine treatment have been the major concern in most studies, despite the effectiveness of the medication, as coronary heart disease is strongly associated with a decrease in the life expectancy of schizophrenia patients (coupled with higher levels of smoking and malnutrition). Treatment with risperidone was associated with a worsening of depressive affect and suicidal ideation (except prolactin-related and extrapyramidal adverse effects), as well as sexual dysfunction. Hyperprolactinemia, extrapyramidal / neurological symptoms, and sexual dysfunction were the major problems with haloperidol treatment despite a good efficacy profile with respect to positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Sporadic effectiveness, agitation and, to a lesser extent, weight gain were some of the concerns in palimperidone treatment. Aripiprazole treatment was associated with a comparatively milder and in the long term more preferable adverse effect profile, while exhibiting similarly high levels of efficacy with olanzapine in controlling schizophrenia symptoms, but with a reported relatively higher rate in treatment discontinuation (drop-outs) in comparison to olanzapine and haloperidol in case of schizophrenia (in contrast to schizoaffective disorder in which high levels of both compliance and effectiveness are exhibited). DISCUSSION: The need for an individualized approach in psychiatric treatment highlighted so that the needs of each patient be taken into account by the therapist in choosing the optimal treatment within a given time frame.