INTERMITTENT VERSUS MAINTENANCE NEUROLEPTIC LONG-TERM TREATMENT IN SCHIZOPHRENIA - 2-YEAR RESULTS OF A GERMAN MULTICENTER STUDY

The paper presents the 2-year results of a multicenter study on the comparative efficacy of different neuroleptic long-term treatment strategies in 364 schizophrenic outpatients carried out by the German Neuroleptic Treatment Study (ANI) Group. Three randomly assigned open neuroleptic treatments were compared: standard prophylactic maintenance medication, and two types of intermittent treatment (early intervention and neuroleptic crisis intervention). Although relapserates were significantly lower under early intervention (49%) than under crisis intervention (63%), those under maintenance treatment were by far the lowest (23%). Dropout and rehospitalization rates under both intermittent treatment strategies were also significantly less favorable than under maintenance treatment, whereas psychopathology, social adjustment, subjective wellbeing, and side-effects were not significantly different between treatment strategies. Cumulative neuroleptic dosage was significantly lower under intermittent treatment, even when inpatient treatment in a case of rehospitalization was considered. In conclusion, prophylactic maintenance medication turns out again to be the best treatment for most of the patients.