Psychiatrist-determined suitability of patients on long-acting injectable antipsychotics to be discharged from specialist to primary care.

OBJECTIVE: We aim to determine psychiatrists' identified factors associated with suitability of discharging patients on long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAI) from specialist to primary care.

METHOD: We undertook a retrospective observational study utilising case file reviews. A questionnaire was developed specifically for this including sociodemographic information, clinical characteristics of the patients and clinical opinion on suitability of discharge to primary care.

RESULTS: In total, 72 case files (51 men, 21 women) were included in the study. The most common diagnosis was schizophrenia (71%) and Risperidone was the most often used LAI (71%). Fourteen (19%) of the patients were deemed suitable for discharge to primary care. A minimum period of 1 year of stability, having good cognitive function and insight, and absence of high-risk history were associated with suitability for discharge.

CONCLUSIONS: Treating psychiatrists consider only a minority of patients on long-acting injection antipsychotics as suitable for discharge to primary care.