IEPA 11

Dale D'Mello1, Emily Rozin1, Vivek Vanaharam1, Cathy Adams, Scott Palazollo; 1Department of Psychiatry, Michigan State University
               
Introduction: A third of adverse outcomes associated with cannabis use in early psychosis may be mediated by medication noncompliance. Few, if any, studies have examined the role of long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIA) in this group. Objective: To examine the role of LAIA in preventing relapse in patients with early psychosis and concurrent cannabis use. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients diagnosed with early psychosis, defined as a duration of 18 months or less, at the Early Treatment & Cognitive Health Program in East Lansing in 2017. Sources of data included the Navigate Patient Self-Rating Form (NPSRF), electronic medical records (EMR), and hospitalization logs. Data were anonymously entered into MYSTAT statistical software. Differences in the mean value of relapse between patients maintained on LAIA were compared to those maintained on oral antipsychotics. Results: Of 51 total patients, 24 (47%) were cannabis users. Eleven (46%) of the cannabis users were hospitalized versus 5 (19%) of the non-users. The differences were statistically significant: Chi-square=4.403, df=1.000, p=0.036. Of the 10 cannabis users who were maintained on LAIA, only 2 (20%) were hospitalized. By comparison, 9 (64%) of 14 cannabis users on either oral or no antipsychotics were hospitalized. Differences in relapse rate were significant: Chi-square=4.608, df=1.000, p=0.032. Discussion: Cannabis users were more likely to be hospitalized than non-users. LAIA were associated with a lower rate of relapse in this cohort.