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Symptomatic remission in previously untreated patients with schizophrenia: 2-year results from the SOHO study

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Abstract

Rationale

Symptomatic remission is an achievable goal of treatment in patients with schizophrenia.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of symptomatic remission and baseline factors associated with symptomatic remission in previously untreated patients with schizophrenia during 2 years of antipsychotic treatment.

Materials and methods

The Schizophrenia Health Outcomes (SOHO) study is a 3-year, prospective, observational study of the treatment of schizophrenia in the outpatient setting in ten European countries. Symptomatic remission was defined as a score of ≤3 on the clinical global impression (CGI) overall severity score, CGI positive symptoms score, CGI negative symptoms score and CGI cognitive symptoms score, maintained for at least 6 months and without hospitalisation.

Results

Of the patients enrolled at baseline, 1,009 patients were never-treated and prescribed only one antipsychotic; 701 patients (69%) were included in the follow-up analysis at 24 months. Of this sample, 70% achieved symptomatic remission during 24 months of treatment. Baseline factors associated with higher symptomatic remission were: lower negative CGI, lower cognitive CGI, lower overall CGI, having hostile behaviour, lower body mass index, taking olanzapine instead of typical antipsychotics or atypical antipsychotics (except risperidone) and being employed.

Conclusions

A high proportion of patients with schizophrenia who start antipsychotic treatment achieve remission after 2 years of treatment. Type of medication, symptom severity and previous functioning are important predictors of outcome.

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Acknowledgement

Deirdre Elmhirst, Ph.D., assisted in the editorial development of the manuscript.

Diego Novick is a Lilly employee.

Josep Maria Haro, Jean-Pierre Lépine and Dieter Naber have received economic compensation for their participation in the Schizophrenia Outpatient Health Outcomes Advisory Board.

David Suarez is a statistical consultant for the Schizophrenia Outpatient Health Outcomes study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Research Centre, Erl Wood Manor, Sunninghill Road, Windlesham, Surrey, GU20 6PH, UK

    Diego Novick

  2. Sant Joan de Deu-SSM, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain

    Josep Maria Haro & David Suarez

  3. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychosis Early Detection and Intervention Centre (PEDIC), Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistre. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany

    Martin Lambert & Dieter Naber

  4. UMR INSERM-CNRS, Hôpital Fernand Widal, AP-HP, Paris, France

    Jean-Pierre Lépine

Authors
  1. Diego Novick
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  2. Josep Maria Haro
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  3. David Suarez
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  4. Martin Lambert
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  5. Jean-Pierre Lépine
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  6. Dieter Naber
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Diego Novick.

Additional information

The investigators had unrestricted access to the dataset.

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Novick, D., Haro, J.M., Suarez, D. et al. Symptomatic remission in previously untreated patients with schizophrenia: 2-year results from the SOHO study. Psychopharmacology 191, 1015–1022 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-007-0730-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-007-0730-2

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