NAMI Ask the Expert: Facts, Myths and Misconceptions About Long-Acting Antipsychotic Medications OD004

An on-demand video and transcript of the presentation are available here [opens in new tab].

About The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. They are an alliance of more than 650 local Affiliates and 49 State organizations who work in your community to raise awareness and provide support and education to people with mental illness and their loved ones. Through awareness, advocacy and education, NAMI is committed to building stronger communities and a better future for everyone affected by mental illness.

Course Summary

Practice Level: Beginner

This course, based on the Ask the Expert webinar series by NAMI, examines the clinical rationale, benefits, risks, and practical considerations of long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics for maintenance treatment and relapse prevention in schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders. Faculty review high-quality research on adherence, hospitalization, and side-effect profiles while addressing common myths and barriers to utilization. A lived-experience conversation with a veteran and his caregiver adds practical, family-centered strategies for education, shared decision-making, and stigma reduction. The program emphasizes interprofessional collaboration and early, recovery-oriented care that aligns with current guidelines and meta-analytic evidence.

The course, with an intended audience of social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and counselors, then presents current research with person- and family-centered perspectives to support ethical, shared decisions about LAIs across assessment, psychoeducation, care planning, and coordination within interdisciplinary teams.

Course Format

This course contains a participant guide, practice test, and on-demand video (with a slide deck of the presentation). When you’re ready, purchase the course by clicking the “Add To Cart” or “Enroll” button. This will let you take the test, complete the course evaluation and receive your certificate for CE credits.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the empirical evidence for long-acting injectables in preventing relapse and reducing hospitalization compared with oral antipsychotics.
2. Compare long-acting injectables and oral formulations on adherence, dosing intervals, and side-effect considerations to inform shared decision-making.
3. Identify client- and family-centered strategies to address stigma, assess readiness, and engage support when initiating long-acting injectables.

Course Syllabus

• Why Maintenance Matters and Where Long-Acting Injectables Fit
• Evidence, Benefits, and Risks of Long-Acting Injectables
• Clinical Decision-Making and Early Use
• Lived Experience, Family Partnership, and Stigma Reduction

Current References

American Psychiatric Association. (2021). The American Psychiatric Association practice guideline for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia (3rd ed.). American Psychiatric Association Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890424841[opens in new tab]

Boyer, L., Falissard, B., Nuss, P., Collin, C., Duret, S., Rabbani, M., De Chefdebien, I., Tonelli, I., Llorca, P. M., & Fond, G. (2023). Real-world effectiveness of long-acting injectable antipsychotic treatments in a nationwide cohort of 12,373 patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Molecular Psychiatry, 28(9), 3709–3716. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-023-02175-z[opens in new tab]

Brasso, C., Beoni, A. M., Colli, G., Mariani, G. N., & Rocca, P. (2025). Use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics in an acute inpatient psychiatric unit and 90-day re-hospitalization rates: results of an observational prospective study. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, 15, 20451253251367591. https://doi.org/10.1177/20451253251367591[opens in new tab]

Chen, W., Wu, C. S., Liu, C. C., Kuo, P. H., Chan, H. Y., Lin, Y. H., Chung, Y. E., & Chen, W. J. (2024). In-hospital use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics and readmission risk in patients with first-admission schizophrenia in Taiwan. JAMA Network Open, 7(6), e2417006. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.17006[opens in new tab]

Harada, H., Katayama, S., & Kato, T. (2025). Enhanced treatment outcomes for schizophrenia through combined long-acting injectable antipsychotic medications and home visits: Retrospective cohort study. BJPsych Open, 11(5), e183. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2025.10809[opens in new tab]

Huang, C. Y., Fang, S. C., & Shao, Y. J. (2021). Comparison of long-acting injectable antipsychotics with oral antipsychotics and suicide and all-cause mortality in patients with newly diagnosed schizophrenia. JAMA Network Open, 4(5), e218810. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.8810[opens in new tab]

Huhn, M., Nikolakopoulou, A., Schneider-Thoma, J., Krause, M., Samara, M., Peter, N., Arndt, T., Bäckers, L., Rothe, P., Cipriani, A., Davis, J., Salanti, G., & Leucht, S. (2019). Comparative efficacy and tolerability of 32 oral antipsychotics for the acute treatment of adults with multi-episode schizophrenia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. The Lancet, 394(10202), 939–951. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)31135-3[opens in new tab]

Kane, J. M., Agid, O., Castle, D. J., Citrome, L., Fagiolini, A., Kishimoto, T., Larrauri, C. A., Leucht, S., Rubio, J. M., Sajatovic, M., Schooler, N.,  & Correll, C. U. (2025). The use of long-acting injectables for people with schizophrenia: Consensus panel recommendations for overcoming barriers and implementing treatment. Neurology and Therapy, 14, 1-31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40120-025-00838-3[opens in new tab]

Misawa, F., Fujii, Y., & Takeuchi, H. (2022). Tardive dyskinesia and long-acting injectable antipsychotics: Analyses based on a spontaneous reporting system database in Japan. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 83(5), 21m14304. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.21m14304[opens in new tab]

Ostuzzi, G., Bertolini, F., Tedeschi, F., Vita, G., Brambilla, P., Del Fabro, L., Gastaldon, C., Papola, D., Purgato, M., Nosari, G., Del Giovane, C., Correll, C. U., & Barbui, C. (2022). Oral and long-acting antipsychotics for relapse prevention in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: A network meta-analysis of 92 randomized trials including 22,645 participants. World Psychiatry, 21(2), 295–307. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20972[opens in new tab]

Tien, Y., Huang, H. P., Chan, C. H., Huang, S. C., & Wang, V. X. Y. (2025). Addition of long-acting injectable antipsychotics during manic episodes in bipolar disorder: A retrospective analysis of rehospitalizations. Journal of Affective Disorders, 373, 325–332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.12.088[opens in new tab]

Vita, G., Tavella, A., Ostuzzi, G., Tedeschi, F., De Prisco, M., Segarra, R., Solmi, M., Barbui, C., & Correll, C. U. (2024). Efficacy and safety of long-acting injectable versus oral antipsychotics in the treatment of patients with early-phase schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, 14, 20451253241257062. https://doi.org/10.1177/20451253241257062[opens in new tab]

Instructors

John M. Kane, MD

John M. Kane, MD served as chair of psychiatry for 34 years at the Zucker Hillside Hospital and is currently the Co-Director of the Institute of Behavioral Research at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. He also served as the inaugural chair of Psychiatry at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell for 12 years.

He is the recipient of many awards, including the Lieber Prize, the APA’s Kempf Award and Foundations Prize, the New York State Office of Mental Health Lifetime Achievement Award, The Dean Award from the American College of Psychiatrists. He has served as President of the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology, the Psychiatry Research Society and the Schizophrenia International Research Society.

Dr. Kane has been the principal investigator on 24 U.S. National Institutes of Health grants focusing on schizophrenia, psychobiology and treatment, recovery, and improving the quality and cost of care. He is the author of over 930 peer-reviewed papers and serves on the editorial boards of numerous journals.

Jason Jepson

Jason Jepson grew up in Virginia, but he now lives in Myrtle Beach, SC where he advocates for those who have received a diagnosis of severe mental illness. Jason was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder while he was enlisted in the United States Army. He began his mental health advocacy with NAMI where he received peer-to-peer certification and has since gone on to volunteer helping veterans who have mental health issues. Jason also volunteers with the Share Network and Students with Psychosis. Having obtained an associate degree from Reynolds Community College in Richmond, VA, Jason’s true love is writing. He has written two books, “When We Were Young”, a fictionalized memoir of his late teens, and a book of poetry called Misfires of a Lyrical Mind. Jason is proudest, however, of his first person accounts of day-to-day life living with schizophrenia which appear regularly in Schizophrenia Bulletin, an academic journal published by Oxford Press. His story of recovery has been published and cited in both online and print publications such as The Washington Post, Psych Central, The Mighty, MSN, and Newsweek. His personal story, entitled A Soldier’s Unseen Scars, was chosen for inclusion in Johns Hopkins University’s Bioethics Journal and VOICES, their medical magazine. Jason is happy to share his life experiences in hopes of helping others and removing the stigma that prevents them from getting the help they need.

Maye Jepson

Maye Jepson lives in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and along with her husband Phil, is the caregiver/TRUST PARTNER and parent of Jason Jepson who has a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. Remembering the uncertain days when her family first learned of her son’s mental illness, Maye formed a Facebook support group– Parenting Thru Mental Illness, hoping to give and share resources for those who are newly entering the world of mental illness. In addition to a Bachelor of Science degree, Maye has a master’s degree in counseling from Marshall University and holds the Patient Leadership credential from the Health Union. Like her son, Maye volunteers with the Share Network where she shares her perspective on mental health as a parent, wanting desperately to help a young adult child maneuver the challenges of schizophrenia. She works as a Care Guide for Johnson and Johnson’s Connected by Hope program where she guides other families as they begin their battle with schizophrenia. Maye serves on the Advisory Board of Students with Psychosis because she believes in the importance of shedding light on mental health issues from the youngest to the oldest consumer. They have shared their mental health advocacy with numerous groups around the country. She and Jason also are active members of SC NAMI and have presented at the national NAMI conference.

Nicole Errickson, LCSW

Nicole Errickson, LCSW Nicole is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of Georgia. She brings over 19 years experience in the social work field, primarily working in school systems as a school social worker and with the McKinney-Vento grant. Over her career, Nicole has had several opportunities to help develop and execute professional development events. Nicole has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of South Alabama and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama.

Accreditation Approval Statements

CE4Less.com is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CE4Less.com maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

CE4Less.com, provider #1115, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 8/8/24-8/8/27.

Social workers completing this course receive 1 clinical continuing education credit.

This course has been approved by CE4Less.com, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #91345, CE4Less.com is responsible for all aspects of the programing.

We are committed to providing our learners with unbiased information. CE4Less never accepts commercial support and our authors have no significant financial or other conflicts of interest pertaining to the material.