Eficacia comparativa del aripiprazol de liberación prolongada: estudio de administración mensual versus bimestral en pacientes con trastorno mental grave

Abstract

A comparison of the efficacy of monthly and bimonthly aripiprazole extended-release aripiprazole in patients with severe mental disorder on outpatient follow-up was conducted. Extended-release aripiprazole is an antipsychotic used in the maintenance treatment of schizophrenia in stabilised adults. The extended-release injectable (ERI) formulation has been shown to increase adherence and reduce relapse rates compared to oral antipsychotics. In the case described, patients with a mean age of 45 years and diagnoses of paranoid schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and delusional disorder were psychopathologically stable for more than a year on monthly aripiprazole treatment (400 mg or 300 mg). Three months ago, treatment was changed to bimonthly administration of 960 mg.

Comparing the efficacy: in psychopathological stability, patients have remained stable, without relapse or symptomatology, during the three months following the switch to bimonthly administration. This suggests that the efficacy of the bimonthly formulation is comparable to the monthly formulation in terms of maintaining clinical stability. Regarding the treatment adherence, the bimonthly formulation (Abilify Maintena 960 mg every two months) allows for better adherence to treatment. This is because it reduces the frequency of administration, which may be beneficial for patients on outpatient follow-up. In drug levels, the bimonthly formulation avoids sharp peaks and troughs in drug levels, which may result in better symptom control and a reduction in the frequency of relapses. With regard to patient follow-up, although bimonthly administration reduces the frequency of visits to receive treatment, it still allows healthcare professionals to maintain regular contact with patients, improving follow-up and assessment of their progress. In patient preference, the TSQM (Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication) questionnaire mentioned in the study will allow assessment of patient satisfaction with treatment, which is crucial for comparing perceived efficacy between monthly and bimonthly formulations.

It is important to note that although initial results appear promising, the three-month observation period is relatively short. Long-term follow-up is recommended to confirm the sustained efficacy of the bimonthly formulation compared to the monthly formulation. In conclusion, based on the sustained stability of patients and the potential advantages in terms of adherence and medication levels, the bimonthly extended-release formulation of aripiprazole appears to be as effective as the monthly formulation in the maintenance treatment of patients with severe mental disorder on outpatient follow-up. However, long-term studies with larger samples are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.