Addressing the Underutilization of LAIs in a Community Health Setting

The use of long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic medication is considered a recommended treatment for patients who have difficulty taking daily oral medication, although authors of this article found the use of these LAIs to be underutilized for a variety of reasons. These include provider hesitancy in prescribing LAIs for patients and general misunderstandings of the treatment. Investigators examine two cohorts of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia in a community health setting. Recommendations are made to reduce barriers for patients and providers in adopting this treatment. A five-point checklist to aid in identifying patients who may benefit from LAIs is also offered.

Reference: Velligan DI, Sajatovic M, Sierra C, et al. A Program to Increase the Appropriate Use of Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotic Medications in Community Settings. Psychiatr Serv. 2021;72(9):1012-1017. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201900545

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