Long-acting injectable antipsychotics: Six-month follow-up of new outpatient treatments in Bologna Community Mental Health Centres

PurposeThis study aims to describe factors associated to treatment continuity and psychiatric relapses in patients treated with Long Acting Injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) in Bologna Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs).MethodsNew LAI treatments administered between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2015 in CMHCs were selected. The cohort was followed-up for 6 months; predictors of continuity and psychiatric admissions were investigated by using logistic regression- and Cox- analysis respectively.ResultsAmong the cohort of 1 070 patients, only 222 (21%) continued LAI treatment during the follow-up. LAI continuity was higher with first generation agents (OR: 1.71, 95%CI 1.18–2.49) and in case of previous psychiatric hospitalizations (OR 2.00, 95%CI 1.47–2.74). Incidence of psychiatric hospital admissions showed a sharp reduction in the follow-up compared with 6-month period before initiation (from 458 to 212), and was associated with previous psychiatric hospitalizations (HR 3.20, 95%CI 2.22–4.59), immigration (HR 3.13, 95%CI 1.28–7.69) and LAI discontinuation (HR 1.14, 95%Cl 1.01–1.97).ConclusionsPsychiatric hospital admission before LAI initiation was the main predictor both of LAI continuity and hospitalization during the follow-up.