CME: Therapeutic Updates and Best Practices in the Treatment of Schizophrenia

ACCREDITATION EXPIRED: October 22, 2014

Activity Description / Statement of Need:

In this online CME self-learning program:

Schizophrenia, by nature, presents manifold challenges to the healthcare professional directing neuropsychiatric care.  Not only do practical matters like medication adherence play a role in the success of therapy, but it behooves clinicians to also have a well-informed understanding of the symptomatology and treatment course of the disease.  Atypical antipsychotics are the mainstay of initial therapy, with oral agents being preferred first.  However, recent literature has questioned whether earlier treatment with long-acting injectable antipsychotics might improve adherence or whether other treatment modalities like behavioral intervention strategies should be stressed.  Poor patient compliance with schizophrenia medications is associated with suboptimal clinical outcomes, and improving adherence may enhance quality of life and reduce the risk of hospitalization, thereby potentially lowering health resource utilization and its associated costs.

Current guidelines for the treatment of schizophrenia recommend forming a therapeutic alliance, employing not only pharmacologic treatment but also involving family and friends in cognitive behavioral therapy.  This approach may be more prevalent in initial treatments where goals are easily defined: prevent violence, control behavior, reduce psychosis, and return to baseline functioning.  However, in practice, this team approach tends to diminish as the patient becomes more stable.  Unfortunately, patients with schizophrenia tend to have a waxing and waning disease pattern.  As the support system decreases, these patients may become non-compliant and be at a higher risk of a second acute episode.  The longer these patients can be maintained on medication, the better the outcomes.

While many psychiatric healthcare practitioners may understand how to treat acute psychotic episodes, many may not be as comfortable with strategies for maintenance therapy.  Antipsychotic medications, which oftentimes represent an essential therapeutic modality, have many side effects, and therapy must be closely monitored for compliance and adverse reactions.  These detractors to optimal care may be minimized through adjunctive treatment or a change in therapy.  Additionally, therapy involving the patient’s support system should be maintained longitudinally in order to improve the odds that a patient remains in remission.

The emerging literature suggest that the healthcare professional retains a unique position in the effort to improve adherence to therapy, with different patient needs requiring different patient approaches.  Given that nonadherence to therapy does occur and that improved adherence is associated with better outcomes, it stands to reason that a practice gap exists between what is currently done, and what could provide the best outcomes in the schizophrenia patient population. 

This program has been designed to bring healthcare professionals’ knowledge of the rationale behind appropriately managing schizophrenia and encouraging adherence to therapy up to date.

Target Audience:

Healthcare professionals specializing in mental health, pediatric or adult psychiatry, or those who otherwise commonly care for patients with schizophrenia or related psychiatric diseases

This program is supported by an educational grant from Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.

Release Date: October 22, 2012 -- Expiration Date: October 22, 2014

Faculty: Troy Moore, PharmD

Agenda

Learning Objectives

Accreditation

Faculty Disclosure and Resolution of COI

Instructions

System Requirements