The survey performed in four European countries (Germany, Greece, Italy and Spain) aimed to characterize patients with schizophrenia treated in everyday clinical practice in terms of demographic characteristics, presenting symptomatology, and current antipsychotic treatement. We present here characteristics of patients in long term hospitalization.

A survey involving 744 psychiatrists gathered anonimous retrospective data from 3,996 patients with schizophrenia. To ensure representativeness of participating physicians, the dataset was adjusted post hoc. Principal component analysis was used to structure the patient attributes relevant for antipsychotic choice, identifying two discriminating variables (disease severity and socioeconomic level) accounting for 91% of the variance in the data. Methodology is described in full detail by Gorwood (2010).

Of 3,996 surveyed patients, 15.8% were in long term hospitalization. They had a mean of 7.1 previous episodes and 5.5 previous hospitalizations. They typically presented with positive symptoms, with delusions, hallucinatory behavior and ideas of persecusion being most frequently observed. 78% of subjects were smokers, 19% had drug and 9% alcohol addiction. 36% of subjects had a verified cardiometabolic comorbidity and 22% were obese. 54% of subjects had verified medication non-adherence. Most frequently used antipsychotic was risperidone (in 24% of subjects). Ziprasidone was used in 9% of subjects. 13% of subjects were on depot medication and 17% was receiving orally disintegrating tablets.

Subjects with schizophrenia in long term hospitalization have high rates of positive symptoms despite receiving antipsychotic treatment regularly. Smoking rates were alarmingly high.