Overview
Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe mental disorder characterized by a range of symptoms including hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and diminished emotional expression. Undifferentiated schizophrenia refers to a presentation that does not meet the specific criteria for paranoid, disorganized, or catatonic subtypes.Diagnosis
Management
Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics are associated with improved patient outcomes compared to oral antipsychotics (OA), including reduced hospitalizations and emergency room admissions 1.
Initiation of LAI antipsychotics was associated with lower odds of hospitalization (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.54-0.71) and fewer hospitalizations (IRR 0.75, 95% CI 0.65-0.88) compared to OA 1.
LAI antipsychotics were also associated with fewer emergency room admissions (IRR 0.86, 95% CI 0.77-0.97) compared to OA 1.Special Populations
Key Recommendations
Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics should be considered for patients with schizophrenia, as they are associated with improved outcomes such as reduced hospitalizations and emergency room admissions compared to oral antipsychotics 1. (Evidence: Moderate)
The use of LAI antipsychotics may lead to increased medication adherence among adult patients with schizophrenia 1. (Evidence: Moderate)References
1 Lin D, Thompson-Leduc P, Ghelerter I, Nguyen H, Lafeuille MH, Benson C et al.. Real-World Evidence of the Clinical and Economic Impact of Long-Acting Injectable Versus Oral Antipsychotics Among Patients with Schizophrenia in the United States: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. CNS drugs 2021. link