Introduction:A personality disorder is a pervasive and enduring pattern of behaviors that impacts an individual's social, occupational, and overall functioning. Specifically, the cluster A personality disorders include paranoid personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, and schizotypal personality disorder. Patients with cluster A personality disorders tend to be isolative and avoid relationships. The quality of life may also be reduced in these individuals, which provokes the question of how to treat patients with these personality disorders. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the current literature for pharmacologic treatments for the cluster A personality disorders.Methods:A Medline/PubMed and Ovid search was conducted to identify literature on the psychopharmacology of paranoid personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, and schizotypal personality disorder. There were no exclusions in terms of time frame from article publication or country of publication, in order to provide a comprehensive analysis; however, only articles that contained information on the cluster A disorders were included.Results:Minimal evidence regarding pharmacotherapy in paranoid and schizoid personality disorders was found. Literature was available for pharmacologic treatment of schizotypal personality disorder. Studies evaluating the use of olanzapine, risperidone, haloperidol, fluoxetine, and thiothixene did yield beneficial results; however, treatment with such agents should be considered on a case-by-case basis.Discussion:Most of the literature analyzed in this review presented theoretical ideas of what may constitute the neurobiologic factors of personality and what treatments may address these aspects. Further research is needed to evaluate specific pharmacologic treatment in the cluster A personality disorders. At this time, treatment with pharmacologic agents is based on theory rather than evidence.

Introduction:Oral formulations of the antipsychotics aripiprazole, asenapine, lurasidone, olanzapine, paliperidone, quetiapine, and risperidone are indicated for use in pediatrics for several diagnoses. Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics are of interest in this special population because they may be used due to convenience and desire to improve adherence, despite limited support in the literature. The primary intent of this study is to provide descriptive information on the use of paliperidone palmitate, risperidone microspheres, aripiprazole extended-release injection, and olanzapine pamoate in pediatric patients within Indiana Medicaid.Methods:This study was a retrospective database analysis, which retrieved information from Indiana Medicaid over a 2-year timeframe spanning from July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2014. The study included the prescription medications filled for all children and adolescents within Indiana Medicaid who received the LAI antipsychotics paliperidone palmitate, risperidone microspheres, aripiprazole extended-release injection, and olanzapine pamoate.Results:From July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2014, 150 Indiana Medicaid patients younger than 18 years old were prescribed a LAI atypical antipsychotic. A total of 1013 LAI atypical antipsychotic doses were billed to Indiana Medicaid during the study period for pediatric patients. Paliperidone palmitate was billed most frequently.Discussion:Long-acting injectable atypical antipsychotics are being prescribed for children and adolescents within Indiana Medicaid, despite minimal clinical evidence supporting use. There is a need for further research in this area to increase generalizability of results and aid in implementation of policies to prevent inappropriate use of LAI antipsychotics in children and adolescents.