Aripiprazole two-month long-acting injectable may increase time to readmission compared to aripiprazole one-month in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.

OBJECTIVE

Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder are primarily treated with antipsychotic medications, including long-acting injectables (LAIs) which help reduce relapse/readmission. New LAIs have longer duration of action, including aripiprazole which now is available in bimonthly and monthly formulations. This study aimed to examine if bimonthly aripiprazole LAI (ARI-2) led to reduced readmissions and longer time to readmission compared to monthly aripiprazole LAI (ARI-1).

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study examined all patients psychiatrically hospitalized in a metropolitan health system who had the diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, and who received aripiprazole LAI between January 1, 2020 and October 13, 2022 (N = 160). Baseline sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, as well as information on readmission. Differences between ARI-1 and ARI-2 groups were examined across a 1-year period.

RESULTS

ARI-1 and ARI-2 groups were largely similar in terms of baseline characteristics, with ARI-2 having more undomiciled patients and ARI-1 a greater number of prior hospitalizations. Readmission rates between the groups were similar. ARI-2 had significantly longer time to rehospitalization compared to ARI-1, by over 60 days on average. When controlling for confounding variables, such as prior hospitalizations, being undomiciled, and length of stay, only receiving ARI-2 was found to independently predict longer time to rehospitalization among those rehospitalized within 1 year.

CONCLUSION

This real-world study found that receiving bimonthly aripiprazole LAI may be associated with improved outcomes over the course of one year compared to monthly, specifically in delaying time to rehospitalization. Our results are consistent with prior literature. Further research is needed to directly compare ARI-1 and ARI-2 over longer periods of time.