Antipsychotic Treatment Patterns and Associated Clinical Characteristics in Schizophrenia: A Multicenter Study from Community Mental Health Centers in Türkiye

Abstract

Objective: To describe antipsychotic treatment patterns among patients with schizophrenia receiving care at Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) in Türkiye and to examine associated clinical characteristics.

Methods: In this multicenter, cross-sectional study, 181 clinically stable patients with schizophrenia receiving CMHC care were evaluated. Antipsychotic treatment patterns were categorized as antipsychotic monotherapy (APM) vs. antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP), oral vs. long-acting injectable antipsychotic (LAI) treatment, and second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) vs. first-generation antipsychotic (FGA). Symptom severity and clinical status were assessed with the mini-Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (m-PANSS), Brief Clinical Assessment Scale for Schizophrenia (BCASS), Clinical Global Impression–Severity (CGI-S), Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), and Global Assessment of Medication Adherence.

Results: Antipsychotic polypharmacy was common (65.2%), and LAI use was high (60.2%; LAI alone 17.1%, oral + LAI 43.1%). Most patients received SGAs only (82.9%), whereas 17.1% used an FGA + SGA combination. Compared with APM, APP was associated with older age, longer illness duration, and more hospitalizations, as well as greater symptom burden and clinical severity (higher m-PANSS and BCASS scores and higher CGI-S) and poorer functioning (lower GAF). Clozapine was prescribed to 21.5% of patients, predominantly within APP.

Conclusion: In patients with schizophrenia receiving care at CMHCs in Türkiye, prescription is characterized by frequent APP and substantial LAI use, concentrated among individuals with more severe and chronic illness profiles. These real-world patterns may diverge from guideline-recommended pathways and underscore the need for individualized, evidence-based strategies to optimize outcomes in CMHC populations.

Cite this article as: Asan Ö, Yıldız M, Kenar ANİ, et al. Antipsychotic treatment patterns and associated clinical characteristics in schizophrenia: a multicenter study from community mental health centers in Türkiye. Neuropsychiatr Invest. 2026, 64, 0002, doi: 10.5152/NI.2026.26002.