Long-acting injectable risperidone as an option in first-episode psychosis

ABSTRACT FROM: Subotnik KL, Casaus LR, Ventura J, et al . Long-acting injectable risperidone for relapse prevention and control of breakthrough symptoms after a recent first episode of schizophrenia: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry 2015;72:822–9. Appropriate use of antipsychotic medications for people experiencing early episode psychosis is critical for symptom control and for shaping attitudes towards medication as a support to recovery.1 Risperidone is an effective medication in treating early episode psychosis2 and long-acting injectable risperidone may increase early (12-week) adherence rates.3 However, long-acting medications are rarely used following a first episode of schizophrenia4 and the aim of the present study was to compare the clinical efficacy of the long-acting injectable formulation of risperidone with the oral formulation in the early course of schizophrenia. Eighty-three people with early episode schizophrenia (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV)) in the Los Angeles area participated between …