Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics for Schizophrenia: Sociodemographic Characteristics and Treatment Adherence

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Pharmacology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics are a cornerstone in schizophrenia management.
• Optimizing adherence to LAI therapy is crucial for treatment efficacy and patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To retrospectively analyze factors influencing patient adherence to long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic medications.
• Identify key variables that impact the discontinuation rates of LAIs in schizophrenia patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of patient data from a large general hospital mental health center.
• Included 120 women and 178 men treated with at least one LAI between January 2014 and October 2015.
• Hazard analysis and chi-squared tests were used to assess discontinuation rates based on sociodemographic, program, and medication variables.

Main Results:

• The cumulative continuation rate for LAIs was 73% over the study period.
• Significant differences in continuation rates were observed based on LAI type, prescribed frequency, and program type.
• No significant differences in LAI continuation were found related to patient age, sex, race, or involuntary outpatient commitment status.

Conclusions:

• Medication type, appointment frequency, and program type are critical determinants of LAI adherence in schizophrenia.
• These factors represent potential targets for interventions aimed at improving and sustaining patient adherence to LAI therapy.