CME: Schizophrenia: Barriers to Care, Therapeutic Updates, and Best Practices

ACCREDITATION EXPIRED: December 27, 2016

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 pharmacotherapy, 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 outcome.

The literature suggests 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.

Moreover, given that there have been recent updates in clinical practice guidelines germane to schizophrenia’s treatment and that healthcare professionals are oftentimes unable to keep up with the steady publishing of literature and evolution of clinical practice, continuing education learning activities in this area are warranted.

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: December 27, 2014 -- Expiration Date: December 27, 2016

Faculty: Rimal Bera, MD

Agenda

Learning Objectives

Accreditation

Faculty Disclosure and Resolution of COI

Instructions

System Requirements