Numerous studies show that patients with psychotic disorders have low rates of adherence, which is the main cause of relapses and hospital admissions. It is fundamental to long-term drug treatment in the management of patients with psychosis, both in preventing relapses and the consequences that flow from them (hospital admissions, clinical deterioration, loss of functionality and quality of life of patients)

Assess the benefits to be derived from the use of extended-release injectable antipsychotics in regard to adherence to treatment, the persistent improvement of psychotic symptoms and reducing the number of hospital admissions

Descriptive study. Sample: 40 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder treated at a mental health center. Patients are divided into two treatment groups: 20 patients are treated with risperidone in prolonged release of more than one year duration and the other group treated with oral antipsychotics.

Adherence to treatment is higher in the group treated with injectable antipsychotics (90%) than with oral (50%). The age range from 20 to 61 years. The average hospitalization was greater for the group treated with antipsychotic injections in the period prior to treatment (17) compared to post-injection treatment outcome (5). In patients with oral antipsychotics were 20 hospitalizations in total.

Confirms the results on adherence and hospitalizations compared to other similar studies. There is a clinical and functional improvement, fewer hospitalizations, shorter average stays and higher outpatient adherence in patients with extended-release injectable antipsychotics compared with the group of patients with oral antipsychotics.