OBJECTIVES : To describe and compare demographics, outcomes and comorbidities amongst schizophrenia patients responding to treatment versus partial responders.

METHODS : A cross-sectional survey was conducted in USA from January to May 2014 through the Adelphi Schizophrenia Disease Specific Programme. Inclusion criteria comprised hospital/office-based psychiatrists who had been practicing for 2-40 years at time of study, saw ≥6 schizophrenia patients per week and were personally responsible for treatment decisions. Participating physicians provided information on their next 10 consulting schizophrenia patients aged ≥18, with the same patients invited to voluntarily complete a patient self-completion form (PSC). Patients were grouped for analysis as partial responders (PR) or responders (R) using physician reported CGI-Improvement scale on current treatment (minimally improved=PR and much-very much improved=R) (non-responders excluded).

RESULTS : This study included 150 physicians providing data on 1489 patients (433 PR and 872 R), of which 680 completed a PSC. On average patients were age 41 and male (57% PR and 56% R) with PR more likely to be unemployed (68% vs 47% R p<0.001) and have a higher mean BMI (29.5 vs 28.6 R p=0.027). PR had 2.4 comorbidities on average compared to 2.0 for R (p=0.006) and 42% PR had history of hospitalization in the last twelve months vs. 21% R (p<0.001). PR patients reported a mean EQ5D VAS score of 59.4 compared with 69.9 R (p<0.001) and overall Q-LES-Q score of 44.5 vs. 56.8 (p<0.001) respectively. Overall life satisfaction from the Q-LES-Q was reported as poor-very poor 35% PR and 10% of R (p<0.001). Percentage daily activity impairment due to schizophrenia was calculated from WPAI scale as mean 56.1 PR vs 41.5 R (p<0.001) and 46.2 vs 28.3 (p<0.001) for percentage overall work impairment.

CONCLUSIONS : Schizophrenia patients inadequately responding to treatment show significantly poorer outcomes and higher number of comorbidities when compared to treatment responders.