Citation

Lenardon A, Ahmed M, Harfield KL, Das M. Australas. Psychiatry 2016; 25(2): 181-184.

Affiliation

Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, Broadmoor Hospital, West London Mental Health Trust, Berkshire, UK and; College Tutor, Oxford School of Psychiatry, Oxford, UK, and; Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, Top End Mental Health Service, Parap, NT, Australia mrigen.das@btinternet.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1039856216679547

PMID

27879426

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This case report describes a forensic psychiatric patient presenting with treatment-resistant schizophrenia and serious interpersonal violence complicated by poor adherence to oral medication who was treated successfully with two concurrent long-acting depot antipsychotics.

METHOD: Treatment response was measured for a 6-month period at 6-weekly intervals, post-initiation using the Positive and Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia with Excited Component score (PANSS-EC), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI).

RESULTS: At 6 months, the presentation was found to have markedly improved. The overall PANSS-EC score was reduced by 43.9%, with reductions in Positive Symptom and Excited Component subscales most evident. BPRS Score was reduced from 81 at baseline to 47 at 18 weeks. There was improvement in the patient's level of cooperativeness, aggression and engagement in ward therapeutic activities.

CONCLUSION: Although concurrent use of two depot antipsychotics requires further exploration, there is potential benefit for patient groups presenting with treatment-resistant schizophrenia and poor compliance. Due to risk of serious adverse effects which are difficult to reverse with long-acting formulations, we recommend this option be reserved for this complex patient population and exclusively in care settings allowing close physical health monitoring.

© The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists 2016.

Language: en