Operationalizing Adherence: A Practical Guide to LAI Integration in Schizophrenia Care

The treatment landscape for schizophrenia continues to evolve, with long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) playing an increasingly central role in relapse prevention and long-term stabilization. Yet questions remain about optimal patient selection, comparative advantages over oral antipsychotics (OAPs), and how to effectively introduce LAIs into routine practice. This clinically focused session will provide an evidence-based update on the role of LAIs across the illness trajectory, integrating current guidelines, real-world effectiveness data, and expert consensus recommendations. Faculty will compare available LAI formulations, highlighting key differences in pharmacokinetics, dosing intervals, initiation strategies, administration requirements, and patient-centered considerations that inform individualized treatment planning. Participants will also develop strategies to initiate or reintroduce LAIs using shared decision-making and motivational interviewing techniques. Emphasis will be placed on addressing common patient concerns, engaging care partners, and reframing LAIs as tools for empowerment, recovery, and relapse prevention rather than as a “last resort.”

Supported by independent educational grants from Alkermes, Inc and Teva Pharmaceuticals.