Clinical benefits and impact of early use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics for schizophrenia.

Aim: Results from clinical trials support the use of oral antipsychotics for treatment of early or first-episode psychosis in patients with schizophrenia. This paper will review literature on the advantages of early initiation of treatment for schizophrenia and the clinical benefits of early use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs).

Method: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify published literature on the use of LAIs early in the treatment of schizophrenia.