Introduction: The aim of our study was to investigate antipsychotic treatment strategies in acute schizophrenic episodes in a German university hospital.
Methods: Documented pharmacological procedures in the first six weeks of acute episodes of schizophrenia in the years 1998 (n = 108), 2001 (n = 92), and 2004 (n = 94) were analyzed. Inclusion criteria were: admission voluntary and involuntary as inpatient to our acute ward with a diagnosis of F20x according to ICD 10.
Results: Atypical antipsychotics (AAP) were significant more frequently used in the first week of treatment in 2001 and 2004 compared to the year 1998. Switching to AAP occurred significantly earlier in 2001 and 2004 (after 7.6 +/- 7 days in 1998, 3.5 +/- 5 days in 2001 and 2.3 +/- 5 days in 2004; P < 0.002). In all three years prescription of high potent typical antipsychotics decreased during the first six weeks of treatment. Involuntary treatment (P < 0.001) and age (P = 0.001) were significantly correlated to initial prescription of AAP. Involuntary admitted patients received more often a combination of high-potent conventional high potent typical neuroleptics and AAP (48% vs. 24%, P = 0.007).
Conclusion: Second generation atypicals are used more frequently according to current guidelines and switching from conventional medications occurs earlier.