Posters Indicate Potential Benefit for Patients With Schizophrenia

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Highlights from an observational study on long-acting injectables (LAI) for the treatment of schizophrenia were presented at the 2021 American Psychiatric Association (APA) Annual Meeting in a poster titled, Healthcare Resource Utilization and Costs Pre-/Post-Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotic Initiation in Commercially Insured Young Adults with Schizophrenia.¹

This presentation focused on several key points. Most notably, the rate of relapse significantly decreased following treatment initiation of LAI for young adults aged 18 to 35 diagnosed with schizophrenia. Additionally, costs were reduced across the board; all-cause total medical costs, mental health-related total costs, and total schizophrenia-related costs were all decreased.

“The study results showed that LAI treatment for young adults with schizophrenia may be associated with significant cost savings to commercial payers,” according to the Janssen Pharmaceuticals poster.

Janssen also presented a poster looking at the Changes in Behavioral Healthcare Service Use Among Patients With Schizophrenia Associated With COVID-19 Pandemic.²

This poster demonstrated substantial increases in telehealth, and a decrease in partial day hospitalizations and visits to community mental health centers during the COVID-19 pandemic among adult patients with schizophrenia. According to the study, 69.1% of psychiatry encounters were delivered via telehealth by June of 2020.

Both Janssen’s poster presentations demonstrated potential benefits for adult patients living with schizophrenia in terms of not only accessibility of psychiatric care, but also potential cost-saving benefits for patients.

References

1. Fu AZ, Pesa JA, Lakey S, Benson C. Healthcare resource utilization and costs pre-/post-long-acting injectable antipsychotic initiation in commercially insured young adults with schizophrenia. Janssen Scientific Affairs. http://www.apothecom.com/review/qrcodes/150109058/APA_PALM-OUT-585_206_Poster.jpg

2. Liberman JN, Pesa J, Petrillo M, Ruetsch C. Changes in behavioral healthcare service use among patients with schizophrenia associated with COVID-19 pandemic. Health Analytics, Janssen Scientific Affairs. http://apothecom.com/review/qrcodes/150109057/APA_PHR-OUT-947_Poster.jpg