Reviews were selected if they compared long acting DAPs with placebo or oral medication or compared different doses or types of DAPs for schizophrenia or schizophrenia like illnesses. Data extraction Data were extracted on patient and study characteristics, interventions, and outcomes. Main results 9 reviews were included. Duration of the studies in the reviews ranged from 2 weeks to 5 years. The table showsthe results. Fewer people on DAPs than on placebo relapsed (1 review), left the study

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... ly (3 reviews), or had dry mouth or blurred vision (2 reviews); movement disorder was greater in the DAP group than in placebo group (1 review). DAPs were better than oral antipsychotics for clinically meaningful change (3 reviews); groups did not differ for relapse, movement disorder, tardive dyskinesia (TD), study attrition, or death. Studies comparing types of DAPs could not be pooled without counting participants twice; the data did not show consistent differences among DAPs. Standard dose DAPs were better than low dose DAPs for preventing relapse (number needed to treat 7, 95% CI 5 to 12). Conclusions In people with schizophrenia, depot antipsychotics (DAPs) are better than placebo for reducing relapse rates but they increase movement disorders. DAPs do not differ from oral antipsychotics for relapse or adverse events. Depot antipsychotic drugs (DAP) for schizophrenia or schizophrenia like illness* Outcomes at <2 years DAP Control Weighted event rates RRR (95% CI) NNT (CI)