Addressing Patients’ Unmet Needs to Improve Outcomes in Schizophrenia

Overview

What are some of the challenges you face in overcoming adherence issues and providing patient-centered care for people living with schizophrenia? Drs Harvey and Kane offer evidence and clinical experience on these topics in this journal CME activity. 

Target Audience

Psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners/physician assistants

Learning Objective

  • Address adverse events that affect adherence in patients with schizophrenia
  • Adopt a patient-centered approach to treatment for patients with schizophrenia

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a severe, lifelong disorder that affects cognitive, behavioral, and emotional functioning. Many individuals living with schizophrenia experience numerous relapses and ongoing impairment. Adverse effects are a frequent reason for medication nonadherence among patients with schizophrenia, and nonadherence is the single biggest risk factor for relapse. This Academic Highlights addresses best practices for improving adherence and outcomes for people living with schizophrenia, including lessening the side effect burden and providing comprehensive, patient-centric care. Simplifying the medication regimen, using shared decision-making, and offering psychosocial interventions are strategies that may contribute to better outcomes.

From the Series: Overcoming Adherence Issues and Providing Patient-Centered Care for People Living With Schizophrenia
To cite: Harvey PD, Kane JM. Addressing patients’ unmet needs to improve outcomes in schizophrenia. J Clin Psychiatry. 2021;82(3):IC20018AH3C.
To share: https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.IC20018AH3C
© Copyright 2021 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.

Activity summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 Participation
Activity opens: 
04/21/2021
Activity expires: 
06/30/2023
Cost:
$0.00

Support Statement

Supported by an educational grant from Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.

Learning Objective

After completing this educational activity, you should be able to:

  • Addressing adverse events that affect adherence in patients with schizophrenia
  • Adopt a patient-centered approach to treatment for patients with schizophrenia

Release, Review, and Expiration Dates

This brief report activity was published in April 2021 and is eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ through June 30, 2023. The latest review of this material was March 2021.

Statement of Need and Purpose

The goals of schizophrenia treatment are to control symptoms, prevent relapse, and improve functioning and quality of life. For many patients, these goals are not being met. Unfortunately, clinicians often make decisions that are not concordant with clinical evidence or guidelines. Psychiatrists cite personal experience as the factor that most influences their decision-making about treatment for patients with schizophrenia. Clinicians are often not taking a patient-centered approach to schizophrenia treatment selection; thus, patients feel uninvolved in the choice of their treatment and report less satisfaction with care. Guidelines recommend taking into account not only comorbid illness, concurrent medications, previous medication experiences, and side effect profiles but also patient preferences when selecting antipsychotics. Clinicians would benefit from a review of effective, evidence-based care to help patients improve adherence. They also need to know about new agents that may treat a broader range of symptoms and limit side effects that decrease patients’ adherence and must recognize the importance of adopting a patient-centered approach to schizophrenia treatment.

Disclosure of Off-Label Usage

Dr Harvey has determined that, to the best of his knowledge, no investigational information about pharmaceutical agents or device therapies that is outside US Food and Drug Administration–approved labeling has been presented in this activity.

Review Process

The faculty members agreed to provide a balanced and evidence-based presentation and discussed the topics and CME objectives during the planning sessions. The faculty’s submitted content was validated by CME Institute staff, and the activity was evaluated for accuracy, use of evidence, and fair balance by the Chair and a peer reviewer who is without conflict of interest.

Acknowledgment

This activity is derived from the teleconference series “Overcoming Adherence Issues and Providing Patient-Centered Care for People Living With Schizophrenia,” which was held in October and November 2020 and supported by an educational grant from Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc. The opinions expressed herein are those of the faculty and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the CME provider and publisher or the commercial supporter.

Faculty Affiliation

Harvey Phillip D
Philip D. Harvey, PhD
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Florida


Kane John M
John M. Kane, MD
Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York


Financial Disclosure

The faculty for this CME activity and the CME Institute staff were asked to complete a statement regarding all relevant personal and financial relationships between themselves or their spouse/partner and any commercial interest. The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) defines a commercial interest as any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients. The ACCME defines relevant financial relationships as financial relationships in any amount occurring within the past 12 months that create a conflict of interest. The CME Institute has resolved any conflicts of interest that were identified. No member of the CME Institute staff reported any relevant personal financial relationships. Faculty financial disclosure is as follows:

Dr Harvey is a consultant for Acadia, Alkermes, BioXcel, Boehringer Ingelheim, Intra Cellular Therapies, Minerva, Regeneron, and Sunovion; has received grant/research support from Stanley Medical Research Institute and Takeda; and has received other financial or material support for the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia. Dr Kane is a consultant for and has received honoraria from Acadia, Alkermes, Allergan, Dainippon Sumitomo, Lundbeck, Intra-Cellular Therapies, Janssen, Johnson & Johnson, LB Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Minerva, Neurocrine, Otsuka, Reviva, Roche, Saladex, Sunovion, Takeda, and Teva; has received grant/research support from Otsuka, Lundbeck, Sunovion, and Janssen; and is a stock shareholder of Vanguard Research Group and LB Pharmaceuticals.

The opinions expressed herein are those of the faculty and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the CME provider and publisher or the commercial supporter.

Accreditation Statement

The CME Institute of Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc., is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation

The CME Institute of Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc., designates this journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Note: The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accept certificates of participation for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by the ACCME.

To obtain credit for this activity, study the material and complete the CME Posttest and Evaluation.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 Participation

Price

Cost:
$0.00
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