Antipsychotic medicines in Australian community practice: Effectiveness, adverse effects and quality of life for people with schizophrenia

Abstract

Introduction: Atypical antipsychotics are increasingly recommended as first-line treatments in international clinical guidelines. However, recent meta-analyses and effectiveness studies have found few differences between typicals and atypicals. We aimed to assess the use of atypical and typical antipsychotic medicines, their perceived effectiveness and tolerability, and associated health-related quality of life among Australian community patients with an established diagnosis of schizophrenia or related disorders. Methods: A random sample of people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (n=83) attending four public mental health clinics, and their treating clinicians and family carers, comple..