Long‐acting injectable antipsychotics in early psychosis: a literature review. Issue 3 (24th January 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Emsley, Robin; Chiliza, Bonginkosi; Asmal, Laila; Mashile, Mpogisheng; Fusar‐Poli, Paolo
• Is Part Of: Early intervention in psychiatry. Volume 7:Issue 3(2013:Aug.)
• Page Start: 247
• Page End: 254
• Publication Date: 2013-01-24
• Subjects: Mental health -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Research -- Periodicals; Mental illness -- Prevention -- Research -- Periodicals; Mental illness -- Treatment -- Research -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1111/eip.12027
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-7885

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="eip12027-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>There are sound reasons for considering the use of long‐acting injectable antipsychotics early in the course of schizophrenia. We reviewed available literature on the subject.</p> </sec> <sec id="eip12027-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Method</title> <p>We conducted an electronic database search and critically reviewed all studies in which a long‐acting injectable antipsychotic was evaluated in early psychosis patients.</p> </sec> <sec id="eip12027-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>There is a need for well‐designed studies as most of those reported were open‐label and non‐comparative, and samples were frequently small.</p> </sec> <sec id="eip12027-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>The available evidence does suggest that long‐acting injectable antipsychotics can be used safely and effectively in early stages of the illness, and that they may be associated with better outcomes than with oral medications. However, this is largely supported by evidence from naturalistic cohort studies and a small number of controlled trials of risperidone long‐acting injection. Evidence for olanzapine and paliperidone long‐acting injectables in particular is limited.</p> </sec> </abstract>