title: Long-acting Injectable Antipsychotics in First-episode Schizophrenia.
abstract: Antipsychotic medications are important for the successful management of schizophrenia. Continuous treatment with medication is superior in relapse prevention and non-adherence to antipsychotic medication is associated with a poor clinical outcome. Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) that can guarantee adherence to a treatment regimen could be a useful treatment option. With the introduction of second-generation atypical antipsychotics-long acting injection (SGA-LAI), the risks for extrapyramidal adverse events are decreased. The indications for SGA-LAI have been extended from chronic, stabilized patients to acute psychotic patients. Some studies investigated the use of LAI in first-episode schizophrenia patients and raised the possibility of prescribing LAI as a treatment option. However, there is still limited research using LAI in first-episode schizophrenia. More well-designed, randomized, controlled clinical trials using SGA-LAIs in first episode schizophrenia are needed. Additionally, studies on side effects of SGA-LAI in long-term use are required prior to recommending LAI for patients with first episode schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea. ; Research Institute of Mental Health, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Ghang
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Moon-Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Antipsychotic agents; Delayed-action preparations; Injections; Schizophrenia