For Educational Purposes Only

Working toward reducing schizophrenia relapse

Schizophrenia is a chronic, relapsing, and disabling disorder characterized by symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions, disorganized thinking, affective flattening, apathy, and social withdrawal.1 Schizophrenia is characterized by recurrent episodes of relapse of psychotic symptoms.1

The risk of relapse is great, with the one-year rate as high as 50 percent and the five-year rate as high as 80 percent.2,3 Prevention of relapse is one crucial goal of long-term therapy in schizophrenia.4

Frameworks in Health and Quality: Schizophrenia Relapse Reduction Program is a series of educational resources for healthcare stakeholders — including providers and payers who can choose to share resources with patients and their caregivers — that aims to:

  • Assist and complement relapse reduction efforts
  • Enhance communication among all stakeholders
  • Provide stakeholders with relapse educational materials for patients and caregivers
  • Emphasize patient wellness and adherence to treatment plans
  • Promote other important relapse reduction topics such as medication reconciliation, transitions of care, and quality measures

Because relapse in schizophrenia is associated with a heavy financial and human burden, its reduction has become an important goal. Our Frameworks in Health and Quality: Schizophrenia Relapse Reduction disease management program can complement your efforts by providing resources to key stakeholders who are in a position to help improve the quality of care delivered to patients.

Payer Resources

Program introductory materials and key issues for payers including Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) quality improvement guidance resources and disease management program components.

Provider Resources

Program introductory materials and education and awareness resources for providers, community mental health centers, case managers, hospital treatment teams, social workers, and other patient advocates; including relapse and disease management, treatment adherence, and medication reconciliation resources.

Patient*/Caregiver Resources

Program materials include schizophrenia and relapse education and awareness resources that include tools for relapse action planning, treatment adherence, and hospitalization resources.

*Frameworks resources use patient and consumer interchangeably.

References
  1. American Psychiatric Association. Depressive disorders. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2013:155-188.
  2. Robinson D, Woerner MG, AIvir JM, et al. Predictors of relapse following response from a first episode of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1999;56(3):241-247.
  3. Schennach R, Naber D, Ruther E, et al. Predictors of relapse in the year after hospital discharge among patients with schizophrenia. Psychiatr Serv. 2012;63(1):87-90.
  4. Lehman AF, Lieberman JA, Dixon, LB, et al; for the Work Group on Schizophrenia, American Psychiatric Association. Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Schizophrenia. II. Formulation and Implementation of a Treatment Plan. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc; 2004.

Frameworks resources are intended for educational purposes only and are intended for healthcare professionals and/or payer representatives who may choose to share some of these resources with patients or their caregivers. Healthcare professionals should use independent medical judgment when considering Frameworks educational resources. Patients and caregivers should discuss Frameworks materials with a healthcare professional. They are not intended as, nor are they a replacement for, medical advice and treatment from a healthcare professional. Frameworks resources are not intended as reimbursement or legal advice. Users should seek independent, qualified professional advice to ensure their organization is in compliance with the complex legal and regulatory requirements governing healthcare services, and that treatment decisions are made consistent with the applicable standards of care. Frameworks is sponsored by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc.

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