Background
- Aggression in schizophrenia is often associated with inadequately controlled symptoms, increasing the risk for violent behaviors.
- Atypical antipsychotics are an effective treatment option for schizophrenia patients with persistent aggression.
- Non-adherence to oral antipsychotics due to adverse effects and non-compliance with clozapine’s strict monitoring requirements often limit their efficacy and use.
- An alternative option are long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics. LAI antipsychotics provide a more stable serum drug concentration, resulting in better symptom control and a decrease in adverse effects.
- The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of LAI antipsychotics on aggression at Fulton State Hospital, a long-term state psychiatric facility.
Objectives
To determine if switching from an oral antipsychotic to a LAI antipsychotic changes the frequency of:
- Verbal and physical aggression, self-injurious behaviors, restraint use, as needed (PRN) antipsychotic use, and patient medication refusals.
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