Psychiatria pre prax 2/2025
Can we align physician expectations with patient needs in schizophrenia treatment?
Schizophrenia is a chronic disorder requiring long-term treatment, with poor adherence to oral therapy often leading to relapse and worsened prognosis. Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) significantly improve adherence, reducing relapse and hospitalization rates. The current trend toward longer intervals between LAI administrations increases patient comfort and reduces treatment burden. Aripiprazole in a novel 2-month injectable formulation (Ari 2MRTU, 960 mg) demonstrated comparable efficacy and safety to the standard monthly formulation in clinical trials. Pharmacokinetic analyses confirmed stable therapeutic concentrations throughout the entire 8-week dosing interval. Patients positively evaluated less frequent injections, reporting improved quality of life and greater freedom. Implementing the two-month aripiprazole formulation allows better alignment of physicians’ therapeutic objectives with patient preferences, thereby enhancing long-term cooperation and stability of patients with schizophrenia.
Keywords: schizophrenia, aripiprazole, long-acting injectable antipsychotics, adherence, quality of life, personalized treatment