Long-term inyectable antipsychotics in adolescents. A case report

Abstract

IntroductionActually psychiatrists around the world are treating children and adolescents (despite limited medical indications in this age group) with atypical antipsychotics at increasing rates for a range of psychiatric illnesses (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, behavioral changes…). Over the last few years, a number of new long-term injectable treatments (ILD) have emerged, the advantages of which are found in adult (adherence, functionality, consistent blood level without daily peaks…) but we do not have enough data in minors.ObjectivesDiscuss utility of ILD in adolescents.MethodsWe expose a case report about a 17-year-old man, when he was a child he was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder and autism spectrum disorder and also he had a story of disrupted behavioural and aggressively. After been hospitalized in our hospital we remake his clinic history and he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Before the injectable treatment (ABILIFY MAINTENA®) this patient tried various treatments (mood stabilizers, antidepressants…) and many hospitalizations.ResultsAfter the ILD, our patient has good functionality, he is now living with his parents and studying in the high school. He has not needed another hospitalization after the last one.ConclusionsThe ILD in adolescents must be a therapeutic option in mental disease, in this group is very difficult the complementation of the treatment, it's frequent the comorbid use of substances, this population are not used to take medications… so every treatment that facility this kind of problems must be a perfect weapon to improve their mental health and to prevent relapse and hospitalization.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.