To assess the current treatment patterns and clinical care of schizophrenic patients in Greece.

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

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

(87.23%) of male patients receive antipsychotic drugs and other therapeutic treatments for schizophrenia in a statistically significantly higher percentage than the one of females (81.47%),(p-value=0.0004).

98.85% of males receive antipsychotic treatments versus 99.56% of females (p-value=0.1185).

35.22% of male patients receive non-drug treatment versus 33.24% of females (p-value=0.3966).

Most often prescribed antipsychotics in this sample are: Risperidone: 28.90%(Males 29.43%, females 28.11%), Haloperidole: 22.96%(23.62%,21.96% respectively,), Olanzapine: 21.39%(20.72%, 22.40%), Aripiprazole: 17.60% (15.68%,20.50%) Quetiapine: 9.50%:(9.00%, 10.25%), Amisulpride: 8.51%(9.78%, 6.59%), Ziprasidone: 8.33% (9.00%,7.32%), Clozapin:7.28% (8.52%, 5.42%), Zuclopenthixol: 1.98% (2.52%,1.17%).

The average daily dosage for each of the above-mentioned medications for the whole sample and by gender has also been assessed whether they are used as monotherapy or as part of polytherapy.

In Greece, more male Schizophrenic patients compared to females are receiving care for their illness. Second generation antipsychotic treatments represent the treatment of choice.