Optimizing Long-term Care in Schizophrenia

Target Audience

This activity is intended for psychiatrists and related mental health clinicians.

There are no prerequisites for this educational activity.

Statement of Need

Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric illness characterized by significant cognitive and emotional disruptions, and often progressive loss of self-care and social functioning.¹ In the United States nearly 2.4 million adults over the age of 18 have received a diagnosis of schizophrenia, making it one of the most costly mental illnesses.^2,3 Despite its prevalence and burdens, studies indicate that only about a third of patients with schizophrenia receive adequate care—owing in part to the complex clinical decisions necessary to address patient-specific needs.⁴ Another major hurdle is poor treatment adherence, which has been reported in approximately 40% of patients; consequences include higher rates of relapse, rehospitalization, violent behavior, suicidality, and poor functional outcomes.⁵ Not surprisingly, psychiatrists and other clinicians who manage mental health disorders face many diagnostic and therapeutic challenges with schizophrenia. This educational activity reviews evidence-based recommendations for structured assessment and tailored therapy. Early disease recognition, ongoing monitoring, and good treatment adherence can improve long-term functional and quality-of-life outcomes for patients with schizophrenia.

References

1. Freudenreich O, Schulz SC, Goff DC. Initial medical work-up of first-episode psychosis: a conceptual review. Early Interv Psychiatry. 2009;3(1):10-18.
2. What is schizophrenia? National Alliance on Mental Illness Web site. http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=schizophrenia9. Accessed November 3, 2014.
3. Wu EQ, Birnbaum HG, Shi L, et al. The economic burden of schizophrenia in the United States in 2002. J Clin Psychiatry. 2005; 66(9):1122-1129.
4. Young AS, Niv N, Cohen AN, Kessler C, McNagny K. The appropriateness of routine medication treatment for schizophrenia. Schizophr Bull. 2010;36(4): 732-739.

Educational Objectives

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

• Describe the benefits, risks, and shortcomings of currently available pharmacologic modalities for patients with schizophrenia
• Explain the impact of adherence on patients and be able to develop a treatment regimen to maximize adherence  

Faculty

Leslie Citrome, MD, MPH
Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
New York, Medical College
Valhalla, New York

Accreditation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of Educational Review Systems, Inc., and Integritas Communications.

Credit Designation

This program has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 0.5 Prescribed credit hours by The American Academy of Family Physicians.  AAFP Prescribed credit is accepted by The AMA as equivalent to AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for the American Medical Association (AMA) Physician’s Recognition Award (PRA). When applying for the AMA PRA, Prescribed hours earned must be reported as Prescribed hours, not as Category 1. (This statement applies to all Physicians, not just Family Physicians.)

Instructions for Obtaining Credit

In order to receive credit, participants must complete the pre-activity questionnaire, posttest and program evaluation. Participants must also score at least 70 % on the posttest. Certrificates will be distributed online at the conclusion of the activity.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

The Conflict of Interest Disclosure Policy of Educational Review Systems, Inc., requires that faculty participating in any CME activity disclose to the audience any relationship(s) with a pharmaceutical, product, or device company. Any presenter whose disclosed relationships prove to create a conflict of interest with regard to his/her contribution to the activity will not be permitted to present. 

Educational Review Systems, Inc., also requires that faculty participating in any CME activity and anyone in a position to influence content disclose to the audience when discussing any unlabeled or investigational use of any commercial product, or device, not yet approved for use in the United States.

Leslie Citrome, MD, MPH 

Consultant
Alexza, Alkermes, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, EnVivo, Forest Laboratories, Genentech, Janssen, Lundbeck, Merck, Mylan, Novartis, Noven, Otsuka, Pfizer, Reckitt Benckiser, Reviva, Shire, Sunovion 

Speakers Bureau
AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Otsuka, Pfizer, Sunovion, Takeda

Stocks
Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Pfizer

Jim Kappler, PhD, of Integritas Communications, has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.