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Intermittent drug techniques for schizophrenia.

Stephanie Sampson¹, Mouhamad Mansour, Nicola Maayan

¹Cochrane SchizophreniaGroup, TheUniversity ofNottingham, Nottingham, UK.stephanie.sampson@nottingham.ac.uk.

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

|July 25, 2013

Summary

Intermittent antipsychotic treatment for schizophrenia is less effective than continuous therapy, leading to higher relapse and hospitalization rates. Further research is needed to evaluate its long-term safety and cost-effectiveness.

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Area of Science:

Psychiatry
Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

Antipsychotic medications are primary treatments for schizophrenia, effective for positive symptoms.
Long-term use carries risks like extra-pyramidal symptoms (EPS) and tardive dyskinesia.
Intermittent drug techniques aim to reduce adverse effects by decreasing medication exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the comparative effectiveness of intermittent versus maintenance antipsychotic therapy in schizophrenia.
To assess impacts on relapse, hospitalization, and adverse effects.

Main Methods:

Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing intermittent to maintenance antipsychotic treatment.
Searched Cochrane Schizophrenia Group Trials Register and other sources.
Analyzed data on relapse, hospitalization, and tardive dyskinesia.

Main Results:

Intermittent treatment showed significantly higher relapse rates (RR 2.46) and hospitalization rates (RR 1.65) compared to maintenance therapy.
It was more effective than placebo in preventing medium-term relapse.
Little difference was observed in tardive dyskinesia incidence.

Conclusions:

Intermittent antipsychotic treatment is less effective than continuous therapy for preventing schizophrenia relapse.
More research is required to determine the safety, cost-effectiveness, and impact on adverse effects of intermittent treatment.