Involuntary medication treatment of schizophrenia in the inpatient setting.

Abstract

Two Supreme Court cases in the United States describe the use of involuntary medication in individuals with mental illnesses. In addition to these legal requirements, clinicians must also incorporate ethics into treating these individuals, including the principles of autonomy and beneficence. Current guidelines do not provide specific recommendations for choosing an antipsychotic for a patient with schizophrenia who is being treated involuntarily. However, it is recommended that clinicians use general guidelines for the treatment of schizophrenia as a basis for narrowing down appropriate therapy, which may involve the use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics. Clinical considerations that should be accounted for include past medication trials, potential adverse effects, whether tolerability has been demonstrated, route of administration, dosing interval, requirement for oral overlap, comorbid conditions, patient preference, and access to the medication.