Correlation of Duration of Antipsychotic Therapy with Hemoglobin Levels in People with Schizophrenia

Background: Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder with various unknown causes accompanied by a collection of positive symptoms, negative symptoms, disorganization in thinking, speaking or movement and cognitive dysfunction. The therapeutic modality used to treat these symptoms is antipsychotic therapy. Over a certain period of time, the use of antipsychotics can cause hematological syndrome which affects the process of red blood cell formation and hemoglobin levels. Low hemoglobin levels can worsen neuronal function in the brain, thereby aggravating symptoms in schizophrenia. Aim: Analyzing the relationship between duration of antipsychotic therapy <2 years and ≥2 years with hemoglobin levels in schizophrenia patients. Method: This research is an analytical observational study with a cross-sectional approach in which research subjects were obtained using a consecutive sampling method from medical records of patients with schizophrenia (ODS) at RSJD Dr. Amino Gondohutomo Semarang (n=68) divided into 2 groups consisting of patients with a duration of therapy <2 years and a duration of therapy ≥2 years. The relationship between duration of antipsychotic therapy and hemoglobin levels was analyzed using unpaired t-test. Result:  The mean hemoglobin value for people with schizophrenia in the group with a duration of therapy <2 years is 14.09, while that in the group with a duration of therapy ≥2 years is 14.06 with a p value = 0.928. Conclusion: There was no relationship between hemoglobin levels in people with schizophrenia and duration of therapy both <2 years and ≥2 years.