Background: A relapse prevention program called the Information Technology Aided Relapse Prevention Programme
in Schizophrenia (ITAREPS) has been developed and is reported to be highly effective. However the
effectiveness was influenced by user adherence to the protocol of the program, the exact effectiveness and the
role of the ITAREPS have been partially uncertain.
Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the ITAREPS excluding the effect of user
adherence to the protocol of the program.
Method: We attempted to perform a randomized controlled trial by the devised method with visiting nurse service.
Outpatients with schizophrenia were randomized to the ITAREPS (n = 22) or control group (n = 23) and
were observed for 12 months.
Results: The risk of rehospitalization was reduced in the ITAREPS group (2 [9.1%]) compared with the control
group (8 [34.8%]) (hazard ratio = 0.21, 95% CI 0.04–0.99, p = 0.049; number needed to treat (NNT) = 4, 95%
CI 2.1–35.5). The mean number of inpatient days was significantly lower in the ITAREPS group (18.5 days) compared
with the control group (88.8 days) (p = 0.036). The ratio of the number of rehospitalizations to that of
relapses was significantly lower (p = 0.035) and the mean change in total BPRS scores at relapse from baseline
was significantly less in the ITAREPS group (p = 0.019).
Conclusions: The relapse prevention effectiveness of the ITAREPS was high, and we confirmed that the ITAREPS,
i.e., detecting signs of relapse and increasing medication during the warning state, is an effective intervention
during the early stages of relapse