What's New in Psychiatric Treatment? Highlights From the 2026 Southern California Psychiatry Conference
From long-acting antipsychotics to psilocybin and new ADHD meds, clinicians weigh emerging therapies reshaping depression and postpartum care.
In his lecture session, Jacob Hanaie, PharmD, APh, BCPP, argued that long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics warrant earlier consideration in schizophrenia treatment, highlighting that fewer than 10% of US patients are currently receiving LAIs. Hanaie, director of pharmacy at Kedren Acute Psychiatric Hospital & CMHC, cited data showing nearly 70% of patients on oral antipsychotics do not take them as directed, with nonadherence driven by side effects, cognitive impairment, and lack of routine rather than lack of efficacy. LAIs were associated with 89% higher adherence and 26% to 45% reductions in treatment failure compared with oral agents, he emphasized. Beyond adherence, LAIs provide steadier plasma exposure and make missed doses immediately visible to care teams. Hanaie reviewed the expanded LAI landscape, now encompassing 4 molecules with formulations ranging from biweekly to twice-yearly dosing, including aripiprazole, paliperidone, risperidone, and olanzapine options, plus an investigational subcutaneous olanzapine formulation (TEV-749) under review by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with a fourth-quarter 2026 target action date. Barriers to broader LAI use include conservative guideline language, clinician hesitancy, needle anxiety, and logistical friction such as prior authorization and storage requirements. Hanaie emphasized that transparent counseling addressing benefits, misconceptions, and limitations is the strongest determinant of patient acceptance.