Psychiatry

Relapse prevention in first-episode schizophrenia: role of long-acting injectables

January 14, 2015  

Relapse risk factors
Use of LAIs in first-episode schizophrenia
LAI vs. oral antipsychotics
Use of aripiprazole once-monthly
Current recommendations for LAI use
Comment by Dr. Marc-André Roy

The clinical goals in the management of schizophrenia are to reduce the severity and duration of acute episodes of psychosis, promote recovery, maintain optimal functioning and prevent subsequent relapses (National Institute for Clinical Excellence, Clinical Practice Guidelines, No. 82;2009:210; Falkai et al. World J Biol Psychiatry 2006;7:5-4; Lehman et al. Am J Psychiatry 2004;161[suppl 2]:1-56).

Relapses can contribute to clinical destabilization, an increased risk of hospitalization, and a more intractable course of worsening symptoms and reduced responsiveness to antipsychotic therapies. There is emerging evidence that the duration of psychotic relapses is associated with brain volume changes (Andreasen et al. Am J Psychiatry 2013;170:609-615; free full text at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3835590/).   Read More

Combining drug and psychotherapy more effective for depression, anxiety

September 24, 2014  

A new meta-analysis has concluded that combining psychotherapy with pharmacotherapy is more effective than either treatment alone in managing patients with major depression, panic disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder (Cuijpers et al. World Psychiatry 2014;13:56-67; free full text at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3918025/pdf/wps0013-0056.pdf). Read More

Long-acting injectable aripiprazole approved in Canada

August 13, 2014  

Aripiprazole data summary: efficacy and safety results
Underutilization of LAIs
Commentary by Dr. Ofer Agid, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.

A once-monthly long-acting injectable (LAI) formulation of aripiprazole (Abilify Maintena; Otsuka Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.) has now been approved by Health Canada for maintenance treatment of adult patients with schizophrenia.

It is the first partial dopamine agonist to become available as an LAI. Aripiprazole once-monthly (OM) was previously approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in February 2013. Read More