To evaluate the current medical status, clinical care and treatment patterns of schizophrenic patients in Greece.

The Greek ‘ACE’ study is a descriptive, cross-sectional, multicentre national survey conducted in outpatient setting by 101 psychiatrists (under 3 Coordinators Psychiatrists) proportionately distributed all over Greece who registered during one visit the first twenty consecutive patients presenting at their consultation. Observational period :29/09/2005 -22/12/2005.

Recruited 2040 patients over 18 years old, with an ICD-10 primary diagnosis of schizophrenia.

A total of 1716 patients (1033 males and 683 females) were treated with antipsychotics agents. Among them, 52.10% experienced adverse events at the time of data collection

The most frequently reported adverse events is weight gain(45.86%), extrapyramidal symptoms (32.88%), sedation and impaired concentration (24.50%), dry mouth (22.26%), sexual(18.23%) and menstrual (9.50%) problems. Distribution of various adverse events separately for males and females by each medication when received as monotherapy, is also presented.

The percentage of males presenting with high cholesterol values (13.44%) is statistically significantly higher than of females (9.46%) (p-value=0.0124), while this does not happen neither with high triglycerides values (9.21%-males vs 6.99%-females) (p-value=0.1011),nor

with high glucose values (6.72%-males vs 6.71%-females) (p-value=0.9920).

Distribution of high levels of cholesterol triglycerides and glucose, separately for males and females by each medication when received as monotherapy, is also presented.

Weight gain is the most frequently reported adverse event in this study. It is important to patients to receive the most appropriate treatment, taking in consideration both symptom control as well as potential side-effects.