Despite mixed results found in literature, long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) should offer better efficacy and tolerability, compared to oral antipsychotics due to improved adherence and more stable pharmacokinetics. From this perspective, authors evaluated 153 patients, diagnosed with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder and residing in the province of Varese (Italy), in order to compare oral antipsychotics' and LAIs' efficacy in terms of accesses to emergency room, number and length of hospitalizations. Data analysis showed a substantial reduction in all considered variables after the introduction of long-acting therapy, especially for those who received LAI treatment from disease's onset. Authors emphasised the use of long-acting antipsychotic as first-line treatment in the early stage of disease, since available data seem to confirm the hypothesis of a better prognosis for patients who received antipsychotic depot from illness's onset.
Keywords: antipsychotics; early treatment; long-acting injections; recovery; schizophrenia.