Antipsychotic Long-Acting Injections

Antipsychotic long-acting injections (LAIs) were introduced in the 1960s to improve treatment adherence in schizophrenia. Subsequently, first-generation antipsychotic LAIs became widely used in many countries. Recently there has been a resurgence of interest in LAIs that partly reflects the introduction of several second-generation antipsychotic LAIs. This book brings together clinical and research findings on LAIs in a comprehensive volume, with chapters being written by international experts. Though the book concentrates on the use of LAIs in schizophrenia, the emerging evidence base for the use of LAIs in bipolar disorder is also discussed. A repeated theme throughout the book is the importance of prescribing decisions - whether for oral medication or an LAI, reflecting a shared decision making process by the prescriber and patient. The authors stress that antipsychotic LAIs are not suitable for all patients and are only one possible solution to adherence problems. Providing a synthesis and broad picture of the place of LAIs in current clinical practice, and looking at both their advantages and disadvantages, this book will be valuable for psychiatrists, psychopharmacologists, and pharmacists.

About the Author :
Peter Haddad, Consultant Psychiatrist, Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, UK; Honorary Senior Lecturer, Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit, University of Manchester, UK, Tim Lambert, Professor of Psychiatry, Concord Medical School, University of Sydney University Head, Schizophrenia Treatments & outcomes; The Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Australia, John Lauriello, Professor and Chairman, University of Missouri Department of Psychiatry, Columbia, Missouri, USA Dr Haddad graduated with honours degrees in both Medicine and Medical Biochemistry from the University of Manchester, UK. He received his MD for research regarding the relationship between affective disorder in cancer patients and their partners. He is a Consultant in Community Psychiatry in Salford and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester. His clinical and research interests include the pharmacological treatment of affective disorders and schizophrenia. Dr Haddad has authored many publications including original research papers, review papers and book chapters. He was a member of the Development Group for the NICE Bipolar Guideline published in 2006 and the NICE Medicines Adherence Guideline published in 2009. He is an active member of the British Association of Psychopharmacology and has contributed to several of the Association's Guidelines. He is a member of the editorial board of the journal 'Human Psychopharmacology'. Tim Lambert is Professor and Head of Psychiatry at Concord Clinical School at the University of Sydney in Australia. He also holds an appointment as Head of Schizophrenia Treatment and Outcomes Research at the Brain & Mind Research Institute in Sydney. In addition, he fulfils clinical duties for the SSWAHS in Sydney as Director of the Centre of Excellence in Relapse Prevention in Psychosis and at the Concord Centre for Cardiometabolic Health in Psychosis. Professor Lambert has a portfolio of interests spanning clinical psychosis research, outcomes research, training, and education. His current interests focus on the clinical pharmacology of depot antipsychotics (first and second generation) and of the second-generation antipsychotics, particularly risk-benefit aspects and the applied clinical pharmacology of antipsychotic switching; physical comorbidities of psychotic disorders, especially metabolic syndrome; incomplete recovery, and services research (pharmacoepidemiology). Dr. Lauriello specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of psychotic disorders, most notably schizophrenia. In June 2009, he became only the third permanent chair of the MU department of psychiatry in its 50 year history. Dr. Lauriello also serves as the founding Executive Medical Director of the University of Missouri Psychiatric Center. Prior to coming to the University of Missouri Dr. Lauriello was the clinical Vice Chair at the University of New Mexico. There he directed the UNM Schizophrenia Research Group, which focused on clinical trials and neuroimaging. He was Executive Medical Director of the UNM Psychiatric Center for nearly a decade, and he served as a UNM site principal investigator for the Mental Illness and Neuroscience Discovery (MIND) Institute, a consortium of universities, schools of medicine, brain research institutions and laboratories in Minnesota, Massachusetts and New Mexico.