Risperidone is the first atypical antipsychotic available in long acting injectable form. To gain clinical experience in our local services, Hollins Park Hospital, UK we designed this study to obtain information regarding its tolerability, efficacy and compliance

Data was collected from 28 patients started on RLAI over a period of one year were: patients' age, sex, diagnosis, previous medication, reason for prescribing, dose started on, side effects and clinical outcome after 6 and 12 months. The clinical outcome was obtained from case note entries and rated as improved, same or deteriorated.

Out of the 35 patients who were considered for RLAI, 28 were commenced, no data was available on 3 subjects. Hence 25 were followed up.

The mean age was 38.84 years, with majority male (72%)and with a diagnosis of Schizophrenia (72%), who received several antipsychotics (mean 4.2). The reasons for prescribing RLAI ranged from non-compliance to polypharmacy.

During the first 6 months they received between 25 to 50mg. Overall 52% of patients discontinued RLAI, the main reasons being patient's unwillingness to continue on RLAI.

At the end of 12 months 10(40%) patients maintained improvement and 2 patients had deteriorated, 3 patients stopped RLAI, 2 of them due to deterioration of mental state. The doses used were mostly 50mg. None of the 9 patients who stayed on RLAI received any further antipsychotic medication.

RLAI was well tolerated and efficacious in 36% (9/25) of our patient cohort over one year period, with no antipsychotic coprescription.