title: Psychiatrist-determined suitability of patients on long-acting injectable antipsychotics to be discharged from specialist to primary care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aim to determine psychiatrists' identified factors associated with suitability of discharging patients on long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAI) from specialist to primary care.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a retrospective observational study utilising case file reviews. A questionnaire was developed specifically for this including sociodemographic information, clinical characteristics of the patients and clinical opinion on suitability of discharge to primary care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 72 case files (51 men, 21 women) were included in the study. The most common diagnosis was schizophrenia (71%) and Risperidone was the most often used LAI (71%). Fourteen (19%) of the patients were deemed suitable for discharge to primary care. A minimum period of 1 year of stability, having good cognitive function and insight, and absence of high-risk history were associated with suitability for discharge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treating psychiatrists consider only a minority of patients on long-acting injection antipsychotics as suitable for discharge to primary care.
authors.affiliation: Medical Officer in Psychiatry, Counties Manukau DHB, Auckland, New Zealand castelinoa@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Alwyn M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Castelino
authors.affiliation: Consultant Psychiatrist, Counties Manukau DHB, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jairam K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Ramakrishnan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000066491:Clinical Decision-Making / Q000379:methods*; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003158:Community Psychiatry / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations
keywords: community psychiatry; long-acting injectable antipsychotic; shared care