The Effect Of Effective Laia Medication On The Mental...

INTRODUCTION Within mental health and illness there is a vast amount of treatment options, medications and interventions to treat numerous psychotic disorders. A somewhat controversial treatment within the mental health field, known as long acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIAs), will be discussed in this argumentative paper. Evidence will be presented on how effective LAIA medication is, when compared to oral forms of antipsychotic medication, and the strengths and limitations of administering them. Perceptions of LAIAs from the view of nurses, health professionals and consumers, as well as the nurse’s role in administering and promoting recovery orientated care for people with a mental illness will also be covered. This essay will not provide a clear view, for or against LAIAs, but rather support both positives and negatives of the use of this medication within the mental health field. BACKGROUND Antipsychotic medications have an important role in managing mental illnesses. They are primarily used to treat psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (Australian Medication Handbook (AMH), 2016), and work by blocking dopaminergic transmission, in various parts of the brain, relieving hallucinations, delusions, abnormal behaviour and thought (AMH, 2016; National Prescribing Scheme (NPS) MedicineWise, 2016). LAIAs, also known as depot injections, can be used for chronic psychosis, and are generally used after a consumer is stable through oral