Long-term pharmacotherapy of schizophrenic patients: Achievements, unsolved needs and future perspectives with special focus on long-acting injectable second generation antipsychotics

Schizophrenia is a disorder with a poor long-term outcome. Second generation antipsychotics (SGAs) offer some better treatment options for patients suffering from schizophrenia in terms of a broader efficacy profile and reduced risks of extrapyramidal side effects (EPS). However, in the long-term treatment conditions the problem of a high non-adherence rate has not been resolved sufficiently. The introduction of depot formulations of SGAs might serve as an option to further improve the situation. The respective data of long-acting injectable risperidone are reviewed. Future perspectives of a broader indication of this approach are discussed.