The Preference Survey for Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics of Community-Dwelling Patients with Schizophrenia and their Caregivers

Abstract

Objective : The prescription rates of long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics are very low around 1% in Korea. This study was aimed to explore the preference of LAIs in patients with schizophrenia, who are currently living in community, and their caregivers. Methods : The patients, diagnosed with schizophrenia by DSM-IV TR and were registered in the 31 mental health centers of Gyeonggi province and their caregivers were inquired the knowledge of the LAIs. The questionnaires contained information such as demographic characteristics, history of psychiatric treatment, and so on. Results : About 5,318 were registered in 31 community mental health centers of Gyeonggi province in February 2012. The questionnaires of 614 patients and 365 caregivers were gathered from 20 community mental health centers. The mean ages (±SD) of patients and caregivers were 41.9 (±10.2) and 62.2 (±13.4) years old, respectively. 272 patients (44.6%) had experienced the discontinuation of medications without doctor's consent. 217 patients (35.9%) and 97 caregivers (27.1%) knew about the LAIs. The preference rates for LAIs were 35.2% and 46.8% for the patients and caregivers, respectively. Conclusion : There is still huge discrepancy between the preference and the real prescriptions of LAIs in community-dwelling patients and their caregivers, much higher than in those of hospital settings. This study suggests that both patients and caregivers registered in the community mental health centers have a strong commitment to live in the community. The obstacles against the benefits of LAIs need to be resolved. (Korean J Schizophr Res 2013;16:14-24)

Acceptance rate of long‐acting injection after short information: a survey in patients with first‐ and multiple‐episode psychoses and their caregivers

“…In this study, the rate of prior knowledge about LAI in patients with first‐ and multiple‐episode psychoses was about 35% (Table ), which is very similar to or lower than the results of previous studies . These low rates seem to be related to the scepticism of psychiatrists concerning depot treatment .…”

Patient’s Perspective on Psychiatric Drugs: A Multicenter Survey-Based Study

“…In a study of schizophrenia patients’ preferences for long-acting injectables and oral antipsychotics by Blackwood et al [ 21 ], the most common reasons cited by patients who preferred pills to injectables were “feeling less embarrassed ”(46%) and “feeling less pain”(18%). Lee et al [ 22 ] found that patients who preferred oral medications to long-acting injectables (LAIs) cited “disliking injections” (32.4%) and “thinking oral medications were sufficient” (43.4%) as reasons for not using LAIs. While these results may explain the low preference for injection, it is possible that the patient’s disease itself had a significant impact on the preference survey, as the “injection” as a treatment formula may be unfamiliar to certain patients for which LAIs are underutilized, which would be a limitation of our study.…”