The modern perspective for long-acting injectables antipsychotics in the patient-centered care of schizophrenia

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a chronic syndrome involving different clinical dimensions, and causes significant disability with a negative impact on the quality of life of patients and their caregivers. Current guidelines for the treatment of schizophrenia focus on maximizing a patient’s adaptive functioning and quality of life in a recovery-oriented approach that encourages active collaboration among patients, caregivers, and mental health professionals to design and manage a customized and comprehensive care plan. In the present study, a panel of experts (psychiatrists, psychologists, nurse, and social worker) gathered to review and explore the need for contemporary use of second-generation antipsychotic long-acting injectables (SGA LAIs) in “recovery-oriented” and “patient-centered” care of schizophrenia. Starting from the available data and from sharing personal attitudes and experiences, the panel selected three clinical dimensions considered useful in characterizing each patient: phase of disease, adherence to treatment, and level of functioning. For each clinical dimension, perspectives of patients and caregivers with regard to needs, expectations, and personal experiences were reviewed and the role of SGA LAIs in achieving shared goals examined. The experts concluded that from today’s modern perspectives, SGA-LAIs may play an important role in breaking the spiral of desocialization and functional decline in schizophrenia, thus favoring the recovery process.

Keywords:

• long-acting injections
• antipsychotic
• schizophrenia
• quality of life
• subjective well-being
• recovery

Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Health Publishing and Services SRL (HPS), who provided medical writing assistance. The realization of this article was possible thanks to an unconditional educational grant from Janssen. The various activities needed to write this paper were carried out in complete autonomy by the authors and HPS without any interference from Janssen.

Disclosure

FP is/has been a consultant and/or a speaker for Janssen-Cilag, Lundbeck, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, and Eli Lilly. UA is/has been a consultant and/or a speaker for Angelini, FB Health, Janssen Cilag, and Lundbeck. GM is/has been a consultant and/or a speaker and/or has received research grants from Angelini, Boheringer Ingelheim, FB Health, Italfarmaco, Janssen, Lundbeck, and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals. BC has participated as a consultant in scientific boards and as a speaker in industry-sponsored courses or symposia supported by Janssen Italy, Lundbeck Italy, Otsuka Italy, and ACRAF Angelini. The other authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.