Medscape (6/25, Davenport, Subscription Publication) reports, “Patients with schizophrenia appear to prefer long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics compared with oral versions of these medications primarily because injectables are more convenient and give individuals more control over their lives,” researchers concluded after analyzing “data on 1429 patients with schizophrenia who were participants in a double-blind, randomized, noninferiority study of paliperidone palmitate taken monthly vs once every three months.” The study also revealed that patients “prefer injections once every three months to monthly injections, citing the need for fewer” visits to physicians and less pain. The findings had been slated for presentation at the Congress of the Schizophrenia International Research Society 2020, but that meeting was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Related Links:

— “Injectable vs Oral Antipsychotics: Which Do Patients Prefer?, “Liam Davenport, Medscape, June 25, 2020

NPR (6/25) reports on the lack of African American physicians in the US, where blacks make up 13% of the population but just 5% of physicians. NPR’s Yuki Noguchi “reports on the experience of young African American physicians about where they see challenges for those in training now.” Her interviewees include Altha Stewart, who became the first black president of the American Psychiatric Association two years ago.

Related Links:

— “What It Is Like To Be A Young Black Doctor, “Yuki Noguchi, NPR, June 25, 2020

NPR (6/25, Noguchi) reports that now more than ever, “the need for mental health support is more evident,” particularly “among Black Americans, say people who study and experience the burden of racism.” Unfortunately, “the economic barriers to accessing mental health care have only increased.” For many patients of color, “access to mental health treatment often comes in places of last resort: Jails, schools, emergency” departments. Currently, “the scarcity of Black mental health professionals in the U.S. is now an acute problem, says” psychiatrist Altha Stewart, MD, “who became the first Black president of the American Psychiatric Association two years ago.”

Related Links:

— “‘Bear Our Pain’: The Plea For More Black Mental Health Workers, “Yuki Noguchi, NPR, June 25, 2020

Psychiatric News (6/25) reports, “The price of antipsychotic medications varies significantly between pharmacies, sometimes by differences of over $1,000,” investigators concluded after “calling 281 pharmacies in the Kansas City area and requesting the cash price of a 30-day supply of six generically available antipsychotic medications.” The study revealed that “compared with independent pharmacies, chain pharmacies had the highest prices for most medications,” while “prices at grocery store pharmacies and independent pharmacies averaged $180 and $415 lower than those at chain pharmacies, respectively.” The findings were published online June 24 in Psychiatric Services, a publication of the American Psychiatric Association.

Related Links:

— “Price of Antipsychotics Varies Significantly Between Pharmacies, Study Finds, Psychiatric News, June 25, 2020

Healio (6/24, Amorosi) reports researchers found that almost a fifth “of patients who undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) develop symptoms of PTSD within 6 months.” The findings were presented during the ASCO20 Virtual Scientific Program.

Related Links:

— “Many patients develop clinically significant PTSD symptoms early after HSCT, “Drew Amorosi, Healio, June 24, 2020