title: Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics for Schizophrenia: Sociodemographic Characteristics and Treatment Adherence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic medications are employed universally for the treatment of schizophrenia. This study retrospectively assessed the variables that factor into an individual's adherence to LAIs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data sample was obtained from the adult ambulatory services of a large general hospital mental health center located in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Reports were run in November 2015 to identify patients who had received at least 1 LAI between January 1, 2014, and October 14, 2015. In September 2016, an additional report was run to collect follow-up data. The sample included 120 women and 178 men, ranging in age from 18-81 years, who received at least 1 LAI during a 23-month period. A hazard analysis for single-decrement, nonrepeatable events was used to assess the risk of discontinuation of LAIs during the study period. Separate χ² analyses were conducted to assess differences in discontinuation rates for sociodemographic variables, program type variables, type of long-acting medication, and time effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cumulative continuation rate across the study period was 73%. Main effect differences were found in continuation rates for program type (χ²₂undefined= 10.252, P = .006), LAI type (χ²₅ = 23.365, P < .000), and prescribed frequency of LAI (χ²₂ = 7.622, P = .022). In addition, multiple time-dependent effect differences were found. No significant main effect results were found for LAI continuation rates and patient age (χ²₃ = 3.689, P = .297), sex (χ²₁ = 0.904, P = .342), race (χ²₃ = 5.785, P = .123), or enrollment in involuntary outpatient commitment (χ²₁ = 2.989, P = .084).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of the current research suggest that medication type, frequency of medication appointments, and program type may be key in increasing and maintaining LAI adherence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McCreath
authors.affiliation: 654 E. Jersey St, Elizabeth, NJ 07206. Dr.essielarson@gmail.com.|Adult Outpatient Unit, Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Essie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Residency Program, Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth, New Jersey USA.|Psychiatry Residency Program, Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Purabi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bharatiya
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA.|School of Medicine, Saint George's University, Grenada, West Indies.
authors.forename: Hisham A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Labanieh
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Zvi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Residency Program, Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA.|Psychiatry Residency Program, Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lozovatsky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009515:New Jersey / Q000453:epidemiology; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations