Organizational Barriers to Using Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics in Practice

This CME activity is expired. For more CME activities, visit CMEInstitute.com.
Find more articles on this and other psychiatry and CNS topics:
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders

Patients with schizophrenia who have been nonadherent to oral antipsychotics may experience better outcomes with long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics. Studies have shown that LAI medications help prevent relapse and rehospitalization in schizophrenia. Despite the evidence that they are beneficial, LAI antipsychotics continue to be underutilized in the United States, partly due to organizational barriers such as concerns about the time and effort related to their use, the costs, and misunderstanding and overall lack of experience on the part of medical staff and patients alike. Doctors and the entire treatment team should become educated on the use and benefits of LAI medications, which they can then impart to their patients and their families, and create treatment plans for the betterment of the patients.

See the entire activity.