Determinants of treatment satisfaction of schizophrenia patients: results from the ESPASS study

Knowing the determinants of treatment satisfaction can provide better understanding of patient expectations in schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to determine which treatment-related factors were associated with treatment satisfaction, independently of patient-related or illness-related factors, in schizophrenia patients.

A cross-sectional study of data collected nationwide in France between 2005 and 2006 was conducted. 5500 adult patients with non-acute schizophrenia and requiring a switch of antipsychotic drug were included by 995 psychiatrists. Treatment satisfaction was assessed using the "PAtient SAtisfaction with Psychotropics" (PASAP) self-report questionnaire. Linear mixed model was used to explore the association between treatment satisfaction and treatment-related factors-including the current antipsychotic drug (none, first or second-generation antipsychotic) and psychosocial therapy-independently of patient-related and illness-related factors.

3630 (66%) patients filled in the PASAP questionnaire. Main treatment-related determinants of higher levels of satisfaction were: (1) being on second-generation antipsychotics compared to first-generation antipsychotics (olanzapine: ß=1.2; CI95%=[0.5; 2.0], risperidone: ß=0.9; CI95%=[0.1; 1.6], clozapine: ß=2.5; CI95%=[0.6; 4.3] and amisulpride: ß=1.2; CI95%=[0.3; 2.1]) and (2) participating in psychosocial therapy (ß=0.9; CI95%=[0.3; 1.5]).

Treatment satisfaction in non-acute schizophrenia was related to the more recent antipsychotic agents and psychosocial therapy, which may reflect expectations of more pro-active care.