The use of conventional depots (CDs) continues to have a great importance in our psychiatric sectors due to the unavailability of atypical depot formulations.

The aim of this work was to assess psychiatric nurses’ perspectives of CDs.

Forty nurses from our psychiatric department completed a questionnaire which included both open and multiple choice questions concerning the following topics:

1. - CDs and improvement in adherence to treatment,

2. - efficacy and tolerance of CDs,

3. - interest and indications of CDs.

1. * Psychiatric nurses (PNs) reported that CDs allowed avoidance of oblivion (83%) and regular intake of treatment (54%). But, several PNs believed that the injections of CDs were complex (67%) and the majority considered that CDs did not have positive impact on patient adherence (85%).

2. * PNs thought that CDs :

1. - were more effective (fewer relapses 56%) and better tolerated than oral formulations.

2. - did not require more precautions (80%).

3. - provided more security to the patient (no risk of toxicity 97%).

1. * PNs reported lots of indications: lack of family support (75%), multiple relapses (72%), poor adherence (70%) and self or hetero-aggressive behavior at relapse (52%).

They supported the advantages of CDs: improving social life (85%) and patient's autonomy (68%) and permitting remission (25%).

The findings suggest that PNs have positive attitude towards efficacy and tolerance of CDs but negative ideas about their indications, which could be the cause of patient stigmatization. That's why providing a clear piece of information seems necessary.