The Effect of Fluphenazine Decanoate Every 2 WeeksVersus 6 Weeks in the Treatment of Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorders

Objectives To reduce risks and still take advantage of the benefits of the medication, the pur-pose of this study was to investigate the possible application of longer intervals between inje-ctions of fluphenazine deconoate intramuscularly in treatment of schizophrenia and schizo-affective disorders. Method In this double blind study, fifty patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective dis-orders were randomly assigned to two groups of 25 patients. The first group received 25mg of fluphenazine decanoate every 2 weeks; the second group was treated every 6 weeks. The two groups were then evaluated by CGI, Quality of Life Scale, Level of Functioning Scale, BPRS, and Maryland Psychiatric Research Center Involuntary Movement Scale. Research data were analyzed by Chi-square and one-way analysis variance. Findings The findings did not support a clear difference in relapse symptoms and side effects. Results The use of injections of fluphenazine every 6 weeks instead of every 2 weeks in-creases the rate of patient compliance with treatment and also remarkably decreases side effects of antipsychotic drugs without increasing relapse symptoms.