Use of depot antipsychotic medications for medication nonadherence in schizophrenia.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To describe factors associated with initiation of depot antipsychotic medications in psychiatric outpatients with schizophrenia and recent medication nonadherence.

METHODS:

A national sample of psychiatrists reported on adult outpatients with schizophrenia who were nonadherent with oral antipsychotic medications in the last year.

RESULTS:

In total, 17.6% of psychiatrists initiated depot antipsychotic injections. Initiation was significantly and positively associated with public insurance, prior inpatient admission, proportion of time nonadherent, average or above average intellectual functioning, and living in a mental health residence. Use was inversely associated with using second-generation antipsychotics and other oral psychotropic medications prior to medication nonadherence. Psychiatrists who were male, nonwhite, and more optimistic about managing nonadherence were more likely to initiate depot injections.

CONCLUSIONS:

Initiation of depot injections is a joint function of patient, physician, treatment, and setting factors. Use of long-acting preparations in this population is uncommon despite clinical recommendations urging their use.

• Authors: Joyce C West, Steven C Marcus, Joshua Wilk, Lisa M Countis, Darrel A Regier, Mark Olfson
• Journal: Schizophrenia bulletin (Schizophr Bull) Vol. 34 Issue 5 Pg. 995-1001 (Sep 2008) ISSN: 0586-7614 [Print] United States
• PMID: 18093962 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Antipsychotic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Injections, Intramuscular
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Patient Compliance (statistics & numerical data)
• Schizophrenia (drug therapy, epidemiology)