The intercontinental schizophrenia outpatient health outcomes (ic-soho) study: baseline clinical and functional characteristics and antipsychotic use patterns in the central and eastern europe (cee) region
Abstract
Objective: To describe the baseline findings of the Intercontinental Schizophrenia Outpatient Health Outcomes (IC-SOHO) study in the Central and Eastern European sub-region (CEE-SOHO). Method: The IC-SOHO study is an ongoing prospective, three-year, non-interventional observational study of schizophrenia treatment, clinical characteristics and mental health services utilization in eight Central and Eastern European countries.
The study population consists of non-hospitalized patients who had initiated treatment with or changed to a new antipsychotic. Results: The baseline findings of the IC-SOHO study (CEE-SOHO Subset) appear to reflect clinical practice in Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania and Lithuania (N=2,247).
Overall, the patients were moderately to markedly ill and either overweight or obese (61.1%) when they entered the study. Functionally, the majority of patients was not involved in a relationship, could not care for themselves and was unemployed.
Substance and alcohol dependency/abuse was not a problem in this study population. At baseline, half of the patients were treated with the newer atypical antipsychotics; and anxiolytics/hypnotics were the most commonly prescribed concomitant medication.
Sexual side effects were most frequently reported among the surveyed adverse events. Overall patient compliance/ adherence to medication was good.
Conclusion: The baseline IC-SOHO data highlighted various clinical and functional characteristics and antipsychotic use patterns in a group of outpatients with schizophrenia in a naturalistic setting. Once completed, the IC-SOHO study will add further to this knowledge base.