METHODS: This is a naturalistic study conducted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Patients with first-episode schizophrenia and related psychosis were recruited from Kuala Lumpur Hospital. WHOQOL-BREF, side effects of medications and other variables were assessed after 1 year of treatment in routine clinical situation.
RESULTS: The study comprised 120 adults. There were no significant statistical differences between groups concerning subjective quality of life, extrapyramidal side effects and employment. Significant less benzhexol usage was reported among AAs (P<0.001) compared to CAs and sulpiride.
CONCLUSION: Patients treated with CAs, sulpiride or AAs experienced similar quality of life, clinical and health outcomes after 1 year commencing treatment. Overall, the results are in line with other major pragmatic clinical trials. This study also found sulpiride cost-effective.
METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of the database of a multicentre study which recorded participants' basic demographical and clinical data in standardised format in 10 Asian countries and territories. The data were analysed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.
RESULTS: A total of 955 older adult psychiatric in- and outpatients were included in this study. The proportion of concurrent AP and AD use was 32.0%, ranging from 23.3% in Korea to 44.0% in Taiwan. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found that younger age, inpatient status and diagnosis of schizophrenia, anxiety and other mental disorders were significantly related to a higher proportion of concurrent use of APs and ADs.
CONCLUSION: Around a third of older adult psychiatric patients had concurrent AP and AD use in the Asian countries/regions surveyed. Considering the uncertain effectiveness and questionable safety of the AP and AD combination in this patient population, such should be cautiously used.