Schizophrenia Relapse Lower With Use Of Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics

People diagnosed with schizophrenia and prescribed long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic medications at some point during treatment had lower relapse rates over 16 years when using the LAI than when they were taking oral antipsychotics. Compared to when they took oral antipsychotics, when they used LAIs they had 48% fewer psychiatric hospitalizations, 47% fewer hospitalizations for schizophrenia, 44% fewer suicide attempts, and 37% fewer all-cause hospitalizations. Their risk of adverse events while using the LAI was less than or the same as for oral antipsychotics.

The study took place in Hong Kong, China over 16 years, from January 1 . . .