OBJECTIVES: Compliance to treatment in schizophrenia is important to avoid relapse and hospitalization. There is evidence that satisfaction to treatment is positively associated with adherence. We studied patient and physician preference and satisfaction for different forms of administration of antipsychotic treatment and drivers behind. METHODS: A non-interventional study including adult patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and other schizoaffective disorders using long-term therapy with either atypical orals, atypical LAI (long acting injectables) or other typical LAI were included. One face-to-face meeting was conducted were a number of questionnaires were answered by the patient and the physician, MSQ (Medical Satisfaction Questionnaire), CGI-Severity, DAI (Drug Attitude Inventory) as well as current and previous medication, adherence, adverse reactions and other background variables. The hypothesis was that non-.inferiority in MSQ scale between Atypical LAIs and Atypical oral treatment exist. Statistical method was analysis of variance with a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: A total of 265 patients in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark with a stable disease during the last three months were included. Significant differences were observed between oral treatment and injectables in age and time to diagnosis, and were therefore adjusted for in our analysis. Non-inferiority could be established in the MSQ (primary objective). The hypothesis of superiority was confirmed in DAI scale, were both Atypical Oral and Atypical LAI where significant better (p=0.0001 and p=0.0003) compared to Typical LAI. Patient own assessment of adherence showed that patients= on LAI were more adherent than patients on Atypical oral treatment, while no difference between the two LAI existed. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that patient satisfaction with their drug therapy is not determined by the administration form. Physicians need to have a good understanding of patients preferences and satisfaction to therapy when initiating drug therapy.