Mark Suett, MD

Although long-acting injectable antipsychotic agents (LAIs) are effective in preventing relapse, their use in first-episode schizophrenia was low, and LAIs were rarely the first therapy for early-phase schizophrenia.

Initiation of LAIs was predicted by greater switching of oral antipsychotics and more ED visits. LAIs are often used to respond to relapse rather than prevent it.