Sistema FMUSP-HC: Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP) e Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSPAPIQUIAN, RogelioCORDOBA, RodrigoLOUZA, MarioFRESAN, Ana2014-01-282014-01-282013SALUD MENTAL, v.36, n.1, p.19-26, 20130185-3325https://observatorio.fm.usp.br/handle/OPI/4562Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric disorder associated to high healthcare costs mainly driven by inpatient care. Lack of adherence to antipsychotic treatment is a common reason for relapse and rehospitalization leading to poor prognosis and global functional impairment of patients. Risperidone long-acting injection (RLAI) has demonstrated its efficacy in treating symptoms of schizophrenia and offers the potential to improve adherence to treatment. Objective To determine clinical and functional efficacy of RLAI and use of health resources (eg., hospitalizations in a 2-year follow up study among patients with schizophrenia from Latin America. Method The electronic Schizophrenia Treatment Adherence Registry (e-STAR) is an Observational study of patients who start treatment with RLAI. Data from patients recruited in Mexico, Colombia and Brazil were collected retrospectively for one year prior to baseline; at baseline and every three months for 24 Months. Hospitalization rates and treatment regime were registered. Efficacy was assessed using the Clinical Global Impression of Illness-Severity Scale (CGI-S), while the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and the Personal and Social Performance (PSP) were used for the evaluation of functioning. Results Seventy-three patients completed the two-year follow-up. The proportion of patients hospitalized declined from 16.4% before treatment to after 2 years of treatment with RLAI. Only 2.7% discontinued the treatment due to lack of efficacy. Significant improvements were reported in illness severity as well-as in global functioning assessed by the CGI.S; GAF and PSP scales, respectively. Discussion Our results give further support of the efficacy of RLAI for the treatment of schizophrenia. Additional to symptom severity reduction and functional recovery, improved treatment adherence and reduced hospitalization rates were observed with the use of RLAI. In a real world clinical setting, RLAI offer an effective long-term treatment for patients with schizophrenia, with a lower use of healthcare resources.spaopenAccessRisperidone long-acting injectionschizophreniaLatin Americatreatment adherenceantipsychotic medicationresource utilizationassessment scaleopen-labelcostsefficacysafetyhospitalizationnonadherenceinjectionarticleCopyright INST MEX PSIQUIATRIAPsychiatry