Twice-Yearly Schizophrenia Tx OK’d; Austedo Effective Long-Term; $$ for Sobriety

The FDA approved the injectable, long-acting atypical antipsychotic paliperidone palmitate (Invega Hafyera), a twice-yearly treatment for schizophrenia in adults who have been adequately treated with the 1- or 3-month versions of paliperidone palmitate, Janssen announced.

And in related news, the FDA accepted a new drug application to review Teva Pharmaceutical and MedinCell’s risperidone extended-release injectable suspension for subcutaneous use (TV-46000/mdc-IRM) as a treatment for schizophrenia, based on the RISE and SHINE studies.

A post-hoc analysis of a 3-year open-label extension study of the tardive dyskinesia drug deutetrabenazine (Austedo) showed sustained improvements in the total motor Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale score in patients of all ages. (American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry)

Expect a steep spike in kids needing psychiatric help as schools begin to reopen. (NPR)

The San Diego City Attorney’s Office filed a civil enforcement action against Scripps Health, alleging its Mercy Hospital discharged a patient with schizophrenia from one of its hospitals in 2019 despite a court order mandating he be placed in a skilled nursing facility. (Times of San Diego)

California is toying with the idea of paying people struggling with addiction to stay sober. (NBC News)

One psychiatrist says altered states of consciousness, like those induced by taking psychedelic drugs, could come from sources beyond the brain. (iflscience)

A mentally stimulating job might be one trick to help stave off dementia, according to a study of more than 100,000 individuals. (BMJ)