Evolution of antipsychotic-induced extrapyramidal symptoms in patients with schizophrenia in the real-life: A 4-year follow-up naturalistic study

Previous studies have shown, although not consistently, that first generation antipsychotics (FGA) are associated with a prevalence of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) higher than second generation antipsychotics (SGA). We assessed the prevalence and the incidence of antipsychotic-induced EPS in a large sample of community-dwelling Italian persons with schizophrenia before and after a 4-year naturalistic treatment, to shed light on their natural evolution and to identify possible predicting factors. EPS and psychopathology were assessed in 571 subjects with schizophrenia before (baseline) and after 4-year follow-up. Patients underwent treatment with SGA and/or FGA according to the referring clinicians' judgment. Relationships between EPS and psychopathology were assessed by network analysis, while a linear multiple regression investigated factors correlated to the presence of EPS at follow-up. EPS were significantly more frequent in the FGA- than in the SGA-treated group, and patients with EPS presented a more severe psychopathology. Parkinsonism was directly and positively connected with poor emotional expression at baseline and with poor emotional expression and disorganization at follow-up. Over the 4-year follow-up, emergent EPS were more frequent in FGA-treated patients, while relieved EPS occurred more frequently in SGA-treated persons. The presence of EPS at follow-up was significantly associated with EPS at baseline, illness duration, antipsychotic generation and the daily dose of antipsychotic medications. After a 4-year naturalistic treatment, EPS disappeared more frequently in SGA-treated patients, while they emerged more frequently in FGA-treated individuals. Therefore, although SGA did not eliminate the risk of EPS, these drugs seem to be associated to a more favorable EPS natural evolution.