relapse prevention is one of the key factors to achieve social functioning of persons with schizophrenia

-the lack of therapeutic adhesion is the most common cause of relapse in the psychotic illness

– pharmacological main focuses in the development of long-lasting drugs, to facilitate to the maximum the follow-up of the treatment by the patient, the least interfering in their daily lives

-the availability of an antipsychotic drug of a single monthly dose in maintenance, proven effective in controlling symptoms, improves the quality of life of the patient and its surroundings, as well as their reintegration into the activities of family, work and daily life

Madrid, April 2012.- prevention of relapses is one of the key factors to achieve social functioning of persons with schizophrenia. It is verified that ensure the antipsychotic treatment minimizes the risk of relapse and allow greater stability of the patient. This allows better integration, minimizing the stigma and therefore getting a greater standardization. Similarly, schizophrenia is a chronic disease that requires long-term treatment. In this sense, use tools long-term therapeutic, that make easier the monitoring of medication, appears to be the right strategy, offering greater possibilities of dealing with their concerns in other aspects beyond the pathology and treatment to the patient.

The introduction of new therapies in the treatment of schizophrenia makes essential the implementation in common the experience of the various professionals involved in the recovery of people with psychosis, in order to reach clear conclusions about the diagnosis and possibilities of treatment suitable for each patient.

For this reason, with the aim of which experts can work with people with schizophrenia from the prism of reducing psychotic symptoms as first step toward recovery, focusing on a remission of the clinic that is wide enough for the improvement of their psychosocial functioning allows normalization, psychiatrists around the country have gathered in San Sebastian at the meeting new approaches in the person with psychosis ”, organized by Janssen

in this regard, Professor Miguel Gutiérrez, Professor of Psychiatry of the University of the Basque country has stressed the importance of the scientific meetings between professionals to update knowledge and share experiences on the new alternatives of available treatment that may pose a significant increase in the quality of life of patients. He has also appreciated the support of Janssen for the continuing education of practitioners.

Prevention of relapses

During the meeting, Professor Eduard Vieta, Chief of the psychiatry service of the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona has pointed out that the abandonment of the medication causes 40% of relapses in patients with psychosis. Many patients are not aware of his illness, tend to believe that they are better, that they do not need to take the medication, and forgo treatment ”.

Studies show that the abandonment of the medication is the most powerful predictor of relapses in Psychotic illnesses, a phenomenon which has severe consequences for patients. Relapses are not free – says Vieta-are priced at the biological level because there is loss of Encephalic mass; psychologically because the patient moves away from normality in adaptation to their environment; at the social level because it is isolated even more; and economically because, at the end, they end up receiving more medication to control symptoms ”.

In the scientific citation Spanish psychiatrists have discussed about the therapeutic approach with most recent long-term antipsychotic treatments. Among them, have emphasised the recent contribution involving palmitate paliperidona, agent developed thanks to the most modern techniques of nanotechnology, allowing its use in maintenance by monthly administrations for all patients, facilitating the monitoring of treatment, preventing relapse and offering greater possibilities for social and personal recovery to the patient and its surroundings.

For the patient, this drug poses greater comfort to follow the treatment because a drug especially well tolerated, it is administered once a month, professionals give us certain guarantees of adherence to treatment and allows us to focus on other aspects of the treatment ”, says Professor Vieta.

According to this expert, the family very much appreciates this new drug, because discussions with the patient for daily treatment decision-making are no longer a problem.

But already there were other antipsychotics long-term, Paliperidona palmitate is especially well tolerated, that allows control of the symptoms, which promotes awareness of disease and therefore the treatment compliance ”, points Vieta.

Also, the meeting has defended the need to use Paliperidona palmitate in the early stages of schizophrenia to avoid the damage posed to the patient by each relapse. Is important to anticipate relapses. There is a percentage very high of patients that we know that they will eventually leave the medication, if we advance with a drug like this we will be preventing serious problems of deteriorating cognitive and social ”, said Eduard Vieta. There are several indicators that predict bad treatment adherence, including little awareness of disease, and the abusive consumption of addictive substances.

Dr. J.M. Vázquez, psychiatrist of the CAS Sants (ASPB-ABD) explained that addictions are a risk factor for people with psychosis, and that 40% of patients have a dual pathology, which in many cases is combined with an organic disease caused by HIV or Hepatitis c virus All these factors are also predictors of complications in the treatment monitoring.

The availability of a single monthly dose antipsychotic drug and a good tolerability profile improves the quality of life of the patient and its surroundings, as well as their reintegration into the activities of family, work and everyday life.

Those attending the meeting have had the opportunity to receive a masterful presentation of Nicolás García, Professor of Physics of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and Professor of research of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, which explained the applications of nanotechnology techniques in drug developmentThanks a process which has improved the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of many drugs, including the Paliperidona palmitate.