Comparison of Time to Rehospitalization Among Schizophrenic Patients Discharged on Typical Antipsychotics, Clozapine or Risperidone

Background

The purpose of this study was to compare the time to rehospitalization of schizophrenic patients who were discharged from a psychiatric hospital while being treated with typical antipsychotics, clozapine or risperidone. We also assessed other possible predictors of time to rehospitalization.

Methods

The study monitored the rehospitalization status of all the schizophrenic patients who were discharged from a psychiatric hospital between July 1, 2001 and June 30, 2002 while they were taking typical antipsychotics (n = 272), clozapine (n = 61) or risperidone (n = 49). Rehospitalizations were tracked over a 2-year period using the Kaplan-Meier method. Risk factors associated with rehospitalization were examined by the Cox proportional hazards regression model.

Results

No significant differences in time to rehospitalization were observed among the groups in the first or second year after discharge. Age at onset of schizophrenia was a risk factor for time to rehospitalization over the 1- and 2-year periods.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that atypical antipsychotics did not lengthen the time to rehospitalization. The earlier the age at onset of schizophrenia, the shorter is the time to rehospitalization. Some other factors thought to impact rehospitalization need to be further assayed.

Key Words:  age at onset , clozapine , rehospitalization , risperidone , schizophrenia

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