New data reveal 8 out of 10 patients, with serious mental illnesses, are satisfied with their treatment when given
Seroquel
Alderley Park, UK - AstraZeneca today announced new data from the 17th European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP)
meeting in Stockholm, Sweden which show that SEROQUELTM (quetiapine) improves patients' quality of life and that 8 out of 10
patients are satisfied with it as a treatment.1 The results demonstrate that SEROQUEL is effective, well-tolerated and could
potentially increase patient compliance - due to the high level of patient satisfaction seen in this and other studies.1,2,3
Approximately 50% of patients with schizophrenia do not fully adhere to their treatment which can lead to relapse,
rehospitalisation, poor outcome and high socioeconomic costs.4,5 A patient's own experience with a treatment can have a major
impact on their levels of compliance and consequently the treatment outcome.6,7 Furthermore, research has shown that patients
who experience good tolerability and an improvement in their wellbeing are more likely to adhere to treatment.8
These results were based on an 8-week, open label, observational trial including 802 patients the majority of whom had
schizophrenia and related psychoses. Patients with schizophrenia received a mean dose of SEROQUEL 405mg/day (±267). The
results of the study show:1
-- Almost one third (27% / 214 patients) were either 'very' or 'extremely' satisfied with SEROQUEL as measured by a
self-rated questionnaire
-- In previously untreated patients, 68% showed an improvement in positive symptoms and 35% an improvement in negative
symptoms when treated with SEROQUEL
-- In patients who switched to SEROQUEL from a different antipsychotic, 56% showed an improvement in positive symptoms and
38% an improvement in negative symptoms
-- 92% of patients who switched to SEROQUEL from another antipsychotic due to EPS showed an improvement in symptoms after 8
weeks
-- 57% of patients who switched to SEROQUEL from another antipsychotic due to weight gain lost weight (1.8kg mean weight
loss).
These data support previous research in patients with schizophrenia which show SEROQUEL to be highly effective and well
tolerated in patients who have had an inadequate response or tolerability issues with their previous antipsychotic
treatment.9
"In serious mental illnesses, treatment compliance is crucial in patients' long-term management. Treatments that work
effectively without putting patients at risk of side effects contribute to improved compliance," commented Dr Chris Boek from
GGZ's, Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands and lead investigator. "These results are encouraging for both clinicians and patients,
as here, with Seroquel, clinicians have a treatment that is both effective and well-tolerated which will contribute to
improved compliance and therefore better outcomes for our patients."
Other data presented at this year's ECNP from a two-year, open-label study of 39 patients, by Professor Lili Kopala, with a
mean SEROQUEL dose of 614mg/day show SEROQUEL to be well-tolerated and effective in the long term treatment of the positive,
negative and depressive symptoms in patients with first episode psychosis.10 The results show that patients treated with
SEROQUEL experienced:10
-- Significantly improved mean scores for PANSS (Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale), GAF (Global Assessment of Function)
and SOFAS (Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale) (p
Seroquel - The Patients' Choice
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