Long-acting antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia: opportunities and challenges

Maintenance antipsychotic treatment improves multiple outcomes in people with schizophrenia. These benefits are challenged by medication nonadherence, which is a common occurrence. Long-acting injectable antipsychotic (LAI) formulations were developed to reduce nonadherence and thereby improve outcomes. This narrative review is based on a PubMed search (January 2000 - August 2022) for studies on LAI antipsychotics.

Opportunities and challenges associated with LAIs are reviewed. Advantages, compared to oral antipsychotics (OAs), include improved adherence, reduced relapse and hospitalization risk, delayed and lower relapse risk after stopping treatment, and the ability to differentiate true treatment resistance from 'pseudo'-resistance. Additionally, LAIs are associated with lower all-cause mortality than OAs. LAIs are under-used in many services, partly reflecting negative attitudes, misconceptions, and lack of knowledge among clinicians, patients, and carers. Practical barriers to LAI use include acquisition costs and inadequate service structures to administer/monitor LAI treatment.

The education and engagement of clinicians, patients and caregivers can assist more informed decision-making regarding LAIs. Future research regarding LAIs should encompass multiple complementary designs, focus on functionality and recovery outcomes, and include groups at high risk of relapse, including those with comorbid substance use disorders and early in the course of schizophrenia.