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Access to new medications to treat schizophrenia

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Abstract

Between 1989 and 1997, the Food and Drug Administration approved four new-generation antipsychotic medications for use in the treatment of schizophrenia. This article examines factors associated with the use of new antipsychotic medications as compared with traditional antipsychotic medications from patient interviews, medical records, and a physician survey administered at schizophrenia treatment sites around the country as part of the Schizophrenia Care and Assessment Program. The following variables were significantly associated with a higher probability of receiving an atypical antipsychotic medication in multiple regression analysis atP<.05: female, younger age, younger age of onset, non-African American, having a higher Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale-Negative Syndrome subscale score. Some physician characteristics were statistically significant in the bivariate results but not in the multivariate analyses. Access to new atypical antipsychotic medications is dependent on more than clinical characteristics. In particular, barriers to access may exist for African Americans. Physician access to information about advances in drug therapies also may play a substantial role in the rate of diffusion of new medications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The MEDSTAT Group, 4301 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 330, 20008, WashingtonDC

    Tami L. Mark PhD (Senior Economist) & Patricia A. Russo PhD, MSW, RN (Director)

  2. Health Economics and Research, Aventis Pharmaceuticals, USA

    Riad Dirani PhD (Senior Manager)

  3. Johns Hopkins University, USA

    Eric Slade PhD (Assistant Professor)

Authors
  1. Tami L. Mark PhD
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  2. Riad Dirani PhD
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  3. Eric Slade PhD
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  4. Patricia A. Russo PhD, MSW, RN
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Correspondence to Tami L. Mark PhD.

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Mark, T.L., Dirani, R., Slade, E. et al. Access to new medications to treat schizophrenia. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research 29, 15–29 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02287829

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