Initiation of Aripiprazole Lauroxil Long-Acting Injectable in Adolescents During Hospitalization: A Case Series

Comparison of Psychiatric Readmission Rates for Child and Adolescent Patients on Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics Versus Oral Antipsychotics: A Mirror Study

Objectives: Current literature shows a benefit in clinical outcomes when long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIAs) are utilized in adult patients with psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder. Literature regarding LAIA use in pediatric patients is sparse. The objective of this study is to compare the number of acute psychiatric admissions, psychiatric emergency services (PES) visits, and total number of days admitted to an acute psychiatric hospital 1 year prior to and 1-year post-mirror point of index hospitalization and LAIA initiation. Methods: This was a single-site retrospective mirror-image review of patients <18 years of age initiated on an LAIA during an acute psychiatric hospitalization between October 1, 2015, and October 31, 2022. The number of admissions to the acute psychiatric hospital, number of PES visits, and total number of days hospitalized at the acute psychiatric hospital were captured 1-year pre-index hospitalization admission and 1-year post-index hospitalization discharge, with LAIA administration during index hospitalization being the mirror point. Descriptive statistics and a two-tailed paired t-test were utilized to analyze the data. Results: There were 45 unique pediatric patients initiated on an LAIA during the specified timeframe. Across these 45 patients, there were 47 psychiatric admissions 1-year pre-index hospitalization and 38 psychiatric admissions 1-year post-index hospitalization discharge (p = 0.37). Additionally, there were 24 PES visits 1-year pre-index hospitalization admission and 16 PES visits 1-year post-index hospitalization discharge (p = 0.25). Finally, across the 45 patients, there were a total of 1040 days admitted to the acute psychiatric hospital in the 1-year prior to index hospitalization admission compared with 774 days admitted to the acute psychiatric hospital in the 1-year post-index hospitalization discharge (p = 0.48). Conclusions: In this cohort of pediatric patients initiated on an LAIA, there was a positive trend favoring LAIA therapy over oral antipsychotic therapy with LAIA injection as the mirror point; however, there was no statistically significant difference in the number of psychiatric admissions, number of PES visits, or total number of days admitted to an acute psychiatric hospital. Further studies are required to fully understand the impact of LAIA therapy on clinical outcomes for child and adolescent patients with psychiatric disorders.

Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotic Medication Use in Youth: A Systematic Review of the Literature Along with MedWatch Safety Data and Prescriber Attitudes

Objectives: Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic medications are being prescribed to children and adolescents along a broad age range from 2 to 17 years old. However, there is no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved indication for the use of any LAI in a pediatric population. The goal of this article is to perform a systematic literature review regarding the use of LAIs in a pediatric population, to obtain pediatric LAI safety data, and to survey prescriber attitudes regarding LAI use in youth. Methods: A search for relevant articles between June 1986 and June 2021 was conducted. Safety data were obtained from FDA MedWatch postmarketing adverse event reports regarding LAI use in children and adolescents. A survey of practicing Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists in Wisconsin was done regarding the use of LAIs in youth. Results: The predominant reasons for LAI use in youth were illness severity and treatment noncompliance. Twenty-six of 30 identified studies and reports favored LAI use in youth, but were of low to very low quality. Overall, 587 FDA MedWatch reports between June 1986 and June 2021 were identified. Most adverse events occurred in modest numbers. Extrapyramidal symptoms accounted for 18% of all MedWatch reports, neuroleptic malignant syndrome accounted for 3% of all reports, and deaths accounted for 2% of all reports. The concern for safety was reflected in prescriber survey results along with a recognition that LAIs can be helpful to target severe psychiatric symptoms and address treatment noncompliance. Conclusions: No randomized controlled studies were found. Identified published studies and reports were of low to very low quality. However, it appeared reasonable that the use of LAIs in a select group of pediatric patients can be helpful to target severe psychiatric symptoms and to enhance treatment compliance.

Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotic Initiation in Child and Adolescent Patients with Psychiatric Disorders

Objectives: There are currently no long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIAs) that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in child and adolescent patients, however these agents are used off-label for the treatment of various psychiatric disorders. This study aims to describe the initiation and maintenance dosing strategies of LAIAs in child and adolescent psychiatry inpatients. Methods: This was a single-site retrospective chart review of patients less than 18 years of age initiated on an LAIA during an acute psychiatric hospitalization between October 1, 2015, and October 31, 2022. Patient demographics and hospital encounter information were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Of the 6402 unique pediatric patients discharged from the acute psychiatric hospital within the specified timeframe, 45 (0.7%) were newly initiated on an LAIA. The average age was 15.6 years (range 10-17), with a greater proportion of male (n = 26, 57.8%) and Black or African American (n = 27, 60%) patients. The LAIA agents prescribed included paliperidone palmitate (n = 21, 46.7%), aripiprazole monohydrate (n = 15, 33.3%), aripiprazole lauroxil (n = 7, 15.6%), haloperidol decanoate (n = 1, 2.2%), and risperidone microspheres (n = 1, 2.2%). Primary diagnosis via International Classification of Diseases-10 code at discharge included schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders (n = 19, 42.2%); bipolar disorder (n = 14, 31.1%); disruptive, impulse control, and conduct disorders (n = 6, 13.3%); autistic disorder (n = 5, 11.1%); and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (n = 1, 2.2%). Seventeen patients (37.8%) received a loading dose regimen and/or a maintenance dose regimen that differed from adult package-insert dosing. The mean length of stay was 23.7 days, and 14 patients (31.1%) were readmitted to the psychiatric hospital within 6 months of discharge. The mean number of days to readmission was 71.9 days. Conclusions: This retrospective study is the first to focus on LAIA initiation and maintenance dosing strategies of multiple agents in both a child and adolescent patient population. Further research is required to evaluate the impact of LAIAs on clinical outcomes in this patient population.