Paliperidone palmitate could reduce the consumption of drugs of abuse in psychotic patients

Introduction Itu0027s not easy to choose between different antipsychotics in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia that use drugs of abuse both legal (alcohol, benzodiazepine, anticholinergics) and illicit (heroin, cannabis, cocaine). The use of substances is a powerful risk factor for poor outcome. From CATIE study, we know that the discontinuity is lower with Olanzapine but psychotic patients continue to take drugs of abuse despite medication. Probably, an important aspect is the anhedonia secondarily produced by neuroleptics. Objective We want to evaluate if Paliperidone Palmitate reduces addictive behaviors in a small group of psychotic patient who have agreed to recived injection after the switch from other antipsychotics. Method We have identified four individual with chronic use of drugs of abuse in a Mental Health Center. These subjects were abusing alcohol, cannabis, spice and benzodiazepine. We administered before new treatment and after 2 months the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale of Snaith et al. (1995) and the Leeds Dependence Questionaire of Raistrick et al. (1994). Results The hedonic tone tends to improve and the addictive behavior decreased. Conclusion The therapy with Paliperidone Palmitato is associated with a reduction of the addictive behaviors but we need studies with a larger number of patients.