The Role of Prescription Digital Therapeutics in the Schizophrenia Treatment Landscape

Gus Alva, MD, discusses how he will be examining notable challenges in schizophrenia care, including access issues, and exploring the potential role of prescription digital therapeutics in addressing these gaps.

Panelists discuss how prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) can complement pharmacologic treatments in schizophrenia by addressing persistent negative and cognitive symptoms—such as motivation, social engagement, and executive function—that often go untreated, highlighting the need for a more holistic, patient-centered approach to care.

Panelists discuss the vital but often underutilized role of psychotherapy in schizophrenia treatment, emphasizing the need for accessible, tailored interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for psychosis to complement medication and address persistent functional and cognitive challenges.

Panelists discuss how current schizophrenia care models often fall short due to systemic barriers—ranging from rural access issues to urban resource constraints—and emphasize the need for integrated, scalable approaches that combine pharmacologic treatment with consistent, accessible psychotherapy to address the full spectrum of patient needs.

Panelists discuss the limitations of traditional antipsychotics and the growing role of prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) as complementary tools that align with younger patients’ digital habits, enhance engagement between visits, and enable real-time data tracking to improve proactive, personalized schizophrenia care.

Panelists discuss various prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) in clinical use, highlighting their role in overcoming barriers such as limited therapist access by providing convenient, engaging, and tailored interventions—such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for insomnia and anxiety, cognitive rehabilitation, and on-demand behavioral support—that complement traditional treatments and improve patient adherence and outcomes.

Panelists discuss the critical role of patient-reported outcomes in evaluating prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs), emphasizing how real-world usage patterns, symptom relief, and improvements in daily functioning inform clinical decisions and complement medication adherence, while sham-controlled studies help rigorously validate the true therapeutic effects of these digital interventions beyond placebo.

Panelists discuss the integration of Rejoyn, a smartphone app combining cognitive behavioral therapy with Emotional Faces Memory Tasks, highlighting its efficacy in reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms. They also emphasize the ethical importance of informing patients about prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) as accessible, adverse-effect–free adjuncts that enhance patient engagement and broaden mental health treatment options.

Panelists discuss how prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) such as CT-155 target the challenging negative symptoms of schizophrenia by enhancing motivation, social engagement, and quality of life. They emphasize the role of these tools in overcoming social isolation and supporting patients’ pursuit of meaningful, fulfilling lives alongside traditional treatments.

Panelists discuss how the CT-155 trial data highlight the importance of a strong digital therapeutic alliance in improving engagement and outcomes for patients with schizophrenia, particularly in addressing negative symptoms such as emotional flatness and social withdrawal that traditional treatments often miss.

Panelists discuss ongoing phase 3 studies evaluating prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) for schizophrenia, focusing on improving negative symptoms such as motivation and pleasure. They highlight how these tools—some incorporating augmented reality—show promise in enhancing self-esteem, reducing defeatist attitudes, and supporting personalized goal setting to boost social functioning and quality of life.

Panelists discuss the critical role of multimodal care in schizophrenia management, emphasizing that prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) complement but do not replace medications. They highlight the importance of patient education, shared decision-making, and integrating lifestyle habits to support motivation, symptom control, and long-term well-being.

Panelists discuss the flexible use of prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) in schizophrenia, comparing them with gym workouts that can be used regularly for maintenance or intensified during symptom flare-ups. They highlight PDTs’ role in addressing negative symptoms, supporting sustained improvement, and offering personalized, ongoing care alongside medication.

Panelists discuss patient hesitations toward prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) for schizophrenia. They highlight concerns about repetitive content and technology mistrust due to symptoms such as paranoia, the significant access barriers related to insurance coverage especially for vulnerable populations, and the critical need for improved clinician education to increase awareness and integration of PDTs into treatment plans.

Panelists discuss how increasing patient comfort with technology and advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) create opportunities for integrating prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) into schizophrenia care, while emphasizing the need for clinician education and preserving the human connection.