Continuation rate for asenapine and brexpiprazole treatment in patients with schizophrenia

Introduction The current study sought to compare the treatment continuation rates of asenapine and brexpiprazole while specifically investigating the factors influencing this index and the clinical efficacy of brexpiprazole. Methods Retrospective study on patients with schizophrenia who were prescribed either asenapine (n = 73) or brexpiprazole (n = 136), as part of their routine medical care. Results The treatment continuation rates for asenapine and brexpiprazole were 19.0% and 38.6% at 52 weeks, with that of brexpiprazole found to be significantly higher than that of asenapine (p = .002). Moreover, age was found to be a significant factor affecting the treatment continuation rate for brexpiprazole (p = .03). Additionally, patients with a longer continuation duration had significantly lower Clinical Global Impression‐Severity of Illness (CGI‐S) scale scores compared to those who discontinued early (p = .04). The continuation rate was also significantly higher for those who began using the drug as outpatients compared to those first administered the drug as inpatients (p = .04). Furthermore, disease duration, CGI‐S scale, and continuation duration significantly affected the clinical efficacy of brexipiprazole (p
This retrospective study sought to compare the treatment continuation rates of asenapine and brexpiprazole while examining the specific factors that affect both the continuation rates and clinical efficacy of brexpiprazole in patients with schizophrenia. Results show that brexpiprazole had a significantly higher treatment continuation rate compared to asenapine. Moreover, patients who were older, had a lower CGI‐severity of illness score, and those for whom the drug was initiated as an outpatient, had a higher continuation rate. Meanwhile, disease duration, CGI‐S scale, and continuation duration all significantly affected the clinical efficacy of brexpiprazole.