OBJECTIVES: The authors review literature on depot medication and present data referring to compliance with treatment and hospitalizations of patients who are medicated with flufenazine enantate as outpatients at Hospital Espírita de Pelotas. Methods: The patients in the study were included in the depot regime before May 2001 and had at least one application between May 2001 and June 2002. They were analyzed for the variables compliance with treatment and possible hospitalizations RESULTS: Out of a total of 100 patients, 66 continued to receive deposit applications until the end of the period studied. Of these, 40 (61%) presented good compliance with the treatment, while in 26 (39%) patients compliance was poor. Twenty-five patients in all underwent hospitalizations, most of whom were not in treatment by the end of the study or presented poor compliance. Among patients from the neighborhood in which the hospital is located 10 (67%) presented good compliance with treatment as compared to 30 patients (59%) from different neighborhoods. DISCUSSION: The number of hospitalizations clearly varied according to remaining or not in treatment and compliance with the latter. Patients coming from distant neighborhoods tended to be less compliant with treatment. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible that patients on a depot medication regime who live close to the application site benefit more from the treatment that those who live far away. Further studies are required comparing depot administration with PO in terms of adhesion and investigating predictive factors of good compliance with treatment.
Psychiatry; mental health services; health profile
