Long-acting Injectable Antipsychotics in Nigeria: A Systematic Review of Utilization, Treatment Outcomes, and Barriers to Access
Abstract:
Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics can be an optimal solution for sustained treatment of severe mental illnesses, but the evidence on their use and accessibility in Nigeria is limited. The study aimed to undertake a systematic review of available literature on the use of LAI, its outcomes, acceptability, and barriers in treating severe mental illnesses in Nigeria. The research was conducted using databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Bielefeld Academic Search Engine, and CORE. The inclusion criteria were studies that assessed the use of LAI in treatment, their outcomes, acceptability, and barriers in Nigeria. Three articles were considered in the research, of which one study met the inclusion criteria, involving 128 psychiatrists and psychiatry trainees. According to the findings, the attitudes towards LAI were generally positive, with an estimated number of patients with psychotic disorders who actually received LAI treatment being 41.7%. The most commonly administered long-acting antipsychotics are fluphenazine and flupenthixol decanoate. However, there was no evidence on the benefits of LAI at the individual level, including reducing the risk of relapse, readmission, and the likelihood of adherence to treatment, and recovery process. Moreover, the study identified barriers to LAI treatment, including the cost of medication, availability, accessibility due to transportation and clinic visits, injection administration process, and a burden on patients’ families. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that LAI treatment is used and accepted among medical professionals in Nigeria. However, the evidence based on their effectiveness and cost-benefit is insufficient, which requires further high-quality multi-center studies.References:
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