Intramuscular paliperidone palmitate (PP) is a long-acting, atypical anti-psychotic for once monthly intramuscular (IM) administration in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia.

To study the effectiveness (efficacy and quality of life) of ARP in the maintenance treatment of schizoaffective disorder.

A non-randomized, prospective naturalistic study was performed in out-patients with schizoaffective disorder unsuccessfully treated with oral anti-psychotics. Efficacy of ARP over time was evaluated by using brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS 24-items), quality of life was evaluated by using QL-Index, both at T0 and at most recent visit (T1). Data were analyzed with Student's t-tests and Pearson correlations (α value, two tailed). Paired t-test was applied for BPRS and for Ql-Index total scores (T0–T1).

Data were available for 8 outpatients consecutively prescribed ARP and naturalistically treated attending at the psychiatric clinic, university of Sassari. Mean time on ARP treatment was 207.14 days (sd 137.2). BPRS mean total score at T0 was 57 (sd 13.2) and at T1 was 39.7 (sd 10.8). QL-Index mean total score was at T0 5.43 (sd 1.6) and at T1 7.14 (sd 2.7). Paired sample test showed a statistically significant difference in decreasing symptoms at BPRS over time (P = 0.001) and QL-Index total score (P = 0.023). The analyses showed a significant improving at the following BPRS sub-items: anxiety (P = 0.005), mood elevation (P = 0.014) conceptual disorganization (P = 0.048), emotional withdrawal (P = 0.05), tension (P = 0.02) and distractibility (P = 0.03).

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.