It alt --lst this c PDF on any website. Treatment journey rom Diagnosis to the Successful Implementation of a Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotic Agent in Young Adults With Schizophrenia

Objective:Long-acting injectable antipsychotic agents (LAls) are effective in schizophrenia relapse prevention but are often underutilized. This study aims to understand treatment patterns leading to a successful LAI implementation following schizophrenia diagnosis in a large dataset that included commercially insured patients in the United States. Methods:Patients aged 18-40 years with a first schizophrenia diagnosis (per ICD-9 or ICD-10 criteria), successful second-generation LAI implementation (defined a priori as z 90 consecutive days of use), and z 1 second-generation oral antipsychotic agent (OA) were identified from IBM & REG; MarketScan & REG; Commercial and Medicare Supplemental databases from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2019. Outcomes were measured descriptively. Results:Of 41,391 patients with newly diagnosed schizophrenia, 1,836 (4%) received z 1 LAI; 202 (< 1%) met eligibility criteria of successful LAI implementation following z 1 second-generation OA. Median (range) time between diagnosis and first LAI was 289.5 (0-2,171) days, time between LAI initiation and successful implementation was 90.0 (90-1,061) days, and time to LAI discontinuation after successful implementation was 166.5 (91-799) days. Before LAI initiation, 58% received z 2 OAs. For 86% with successful LAI implementation, the implementation was accomplished with the first LAI. Conclusions:In this dataset of mainly commercially insured patients, LAI use in early-phase schizophrenia was very low (4%). For the majority for whom a LAI was successfully implemented per a priori definition, the implementation was accomplished with the first LAI and in a short period of time (90 days). However, even when LA's were used in early -phase schizophrenia, they were generally not the first therapy, as most patients had several prior OA treatments.