QuestionQuestion
Is risk of relapse reduced in patients with schizophrenia using depot antipsychotic drug regimens compared with oral drugs?
Outcomes
Primary outcome: risk of relapse. Secondary outcomes: rehospitalisation, non-adherence to drug regimen, discontinuation of treatment (any cause).
MethodsDesign
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Data sources
Eligible studies were identified through hand searches of Cochrane reviews of single depot antipsychotics. Update searches were carried out in the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group database in June 2009, and additional studies were identified by hand searching of reference lists, specific journal and conference proceedings, the ClinicalTrials.gov website and contact with manufacturers of depot drugs to identify further trial data.
Study selection and analysis
Studies were included if they were randomised controlled trials (RCT) comparing oral and depot drug regimens of antipsychotic medications in outpatients with schizophrenia or related disorders, with at least 1 year of follow-up. Studies in which fewer than 25% of participants were initially in inpatient…