Skip to content
Original Research
J Clin Psychiatry
February 2026
Latency to Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotic Initiation and Psychiatric Hospitalization in First-Episode Schizophrenia
Full Article
Read the complete peer-reviewed article in J Clin Psychiatry.
Clinical Summary
Relapse and rehospitalization remain major consequences of poor antipsychotic adherence in schizophrenia, yet clinicians still lack a clear answer on when to start a long-acting injectable in the early course of illness. This study addresses a practical question in newly diagnosed schizophrenia: whether delaying LAI initiation changes hospitalization burden and treatment persistence in routine care.
FAQ
Does starting a long-acting injectable antipsychotic earlier reduce psychiatric hospitalization in newly diagnosed schizophrenia?
8 questions
Key Takeaways
In this cohort restricted to patients who achieved continuous LAI treatment, only 30.5% started an LAI within the first year after diagnosis, indicating that early use remained uncommon despite a decade-long shift toward earlier prescribing.
6 takeaways
Clinical Guide
How should clinicians time long-acting injectable antipsychotic initiation after a new schizophrenia diagnosis to minimize psychiatric hospitalization burden?
5 steps
Clinical Guide
How should clinicians counsel and follow patients started on an LAI early after schizophrenia diagnosis given the higher discontinuation risk seen with early initiation?
5 steps
