Compliance is essential to achieve the best results in serious mental illness like schizophrenia.

It was expected that the use of second-generation oral antipsychotics with less extrapyramidal side effect profile would improve the compliance, but the results do not support these expectations except in the case of risperidone long-acting injection.

The aim of this study is to assess the degree of compliance in outpatients who were started treatment with RLAI while they were hospitalized for an acute psychotic episode in psychiatric unit.

A retrospective study was conducted by reviewing medical records of hospitalized patients for psychotic episodes over the past 5 years in three hospitals in Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain) -Hospital de Manacor, Hospital son Llatzer and Hospital de Inca). Due to computerization of medical records, we knew the degree of compliance with treatment and outcome in outpatient clinics. We designed a case report data (CRD) to assess specific variables in our study that was completed for each patient.

The mean duration of treatment in patients who continue with RLAI was 38.8 months. Overall. 69.5% continued with the treatment after 5 years. The patients who continued treatment were rehospitalazed 20% less than the ones who discontinued.

The compliance with RLAI in outpatients was high even in patients with substances abuse. The patients who remain on treatment from hospital discharge have less readmissions. The most common dosis of RLAI is 50 mg. Lack of insight was the most frequent cause of discontinuation.