The Pharmacoepidemiology of Antipsychotics: Utilization, Safety and Effectiveness in Real-World Settings

Dear Colleagues,

Antipsychotic medications remain an important pharmacotherapy for severe mental disorders, yet their use has shifted dramatically in recent years, marked by expanding off-label use and rising prescription rates among vulnerable populations, including children and older adults. While randomized controlled trials establish initial efficacy, they often fail to capture the complexities of real-world practice, including long-term adherence, polypharmacy, and rare safety signals that emerge only in diverse patient cohorts. As the therapeutic landscape continues to evolve, it is increasingly important to understand the delicate balance between symptom management, side effects, and the risk of rare but serious adverse outcomes. This Special Issue invites submissions that leverage large-scale healthcare databases, registries, and electronic health records to illuminate the real-world utilization, safety, and effectiveness of antipsychotics. We welcome research that challenges existing paradigms, addresses prescribing disparities, and informs evidence-based guidelines for safer psychopharmacological care.

Dr. Yi Chai
Guest Editor

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