Recurring Relapses Can Have Devastating Impacts1

Learn about how relapses impact adult patients with schizophrenia, as well as some steps that can help minimize recurrent relapses.

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Disrupt the Decline episode 1 thumbnail
Outlines historical challenges in schizophrenia care in America, the declining availability of psychiatric treatment facilities and the underutilization of LAIs.
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Disrupt the Decline episode 2 thumbnail
Examines schizophrenia's immense economic burden, highlighting how LAIs can impact healthcare, legal, and societal costs by reducing hospitalizations.

Disease Burden and Impact

Body of Evidence
Highlights increased mortality, medical, economic, and social burdens faced by schizophrenia patients, underscoring the critical need for improved care strategies to enhance patient outcomes.
Disrupt the Decline
Outlines historical challenges in schizophrenia care in America, the declining availability of psychiatric treatment facilities, and the underutilization of LAIs.

Confronting Medication Nonadherence

BODY OF EVIDENCE
Examines schizophrenia's typical treatment cycle, revealing how delayed LAI initiation leads to repeated relapses, diminished medication response, brain tissue loss, and poorer long-term outcomes.
BODY OF EVIDENCE
Challenges the practice of restarting oral medications after relapse, advocating earlier LAI initiation for improved stability, independence, and overall treatment success.

Benefits and Evidence for LAIs

REDUCING THE RISK OF RELAPSE
Reviews evidence supporting LAIs' effectiveness in reducing relapse, hospitalization, and mortality in schizophrenia patients compared to oral medication.
BODY OF EVIDENCE
Discusses clinical guideline updates recommending earlier introduction of LAIs to enhance treatment adherence, reduce relapse, and maintain cognitive and functional abilities.

Early Intervention and Proactive Treatment

Body of Evidence
Discusses clinical guideline updates recommending earlier introduction of LAIs to enhance treatment adherence, reduce relapse, and maintain cognitive and functional abilities.
Expanding Possibilities
Evidence-based rationale for early LAI use, addressing adherence challenges and promoting therapeutic alliance.

Addressing and Overcoming Stigma

Expanding Possibilities
Highlights the journey toward acceptance and understanding the crucial role of LAIs in preventing relapse.
PEERspectives
Exploring how stigma impacts schizophrenia treatment and ways to address it through education and trust-building.

Effective Communication and Motivational Interviewing

Body of Evidence
Advises clinicians to discuss LAIs earlier after diagnosis, recommending motivational interviewing techniques, shared decision-making, and positive framing of the treatment benefits.
Body of Evidence
Demonstrates how clinician communication skills, a strong therapeutic alliance, and repeated positive reinforcement can overcome patient reluctance and increase LAI acceptance.

Collaborative and Team-Based Care

Mindset Matters
Clinicians share real-world strategies for integrating LAIs across varied settings, emphasizing relationship-building and practical problem-solving for effective implementation.
Mindset Matters
Explores the importance of multidisciplinary team roles, empowering all members (including nurses and therapists) to advocate and support patient acceptance of LAIs.

Patient Stories and Transformations

Disrupt the Decline
Shares a powerful patient transformation story, illustrating how LAIs dramatically impact adult patients' symptom control, quality of life, and family relationships through consistent treatment.
Expanding Possibilities
Manny’s story emphasizes risks of oral medication nonadherence and the protective role of LAIs.

Caregiver and Family Dynamics

Disrupt the Decline
Highlights intense emotional, financial, and time burdens caregivers face, and how LAIs can reduce their stress by eliminating the need for daily medication oversight.
Mindset Matters
Clinicians share real-world strategies for integrating LAIs across varied settings, emphasizing relationship-building and practical problem-solving for effective implementation.

Long-Term Management and Holistic Care

PEERspectives
Demonstrating how LAIs facilitate a broader approach to managing health and lifestyle concerns.
PEERspectives
Techniques for identifying underlying health issues in patients and discussing medication adherence.
There’s no time to lose.

Reference

1. Lieberman JA, Perkins D, Belger A. The early stages of schizophrenia: speculations on pathogenesis, pathophysiology, and therapeutic approaches. Biol Psychiatry. 2001;50:884–897.