Approximately 40 U.S. sites will participate in the study in order to enroll approximately 500 patients over a year period. They will be recruited into two cohorts - the first episode cohort and the early phase (EP) cohort, with approximately 250 patients in each cohort. Enrollment of patients will be discontinued when the appropriate number for the target for each cohort is reached.
After providing written informed consent, patients will be screened for general eligibility by the clinical team at the site. Basic demographic data will be collected to determine suitability for inclusion into the study. The site will complete an information interview comprising data regarding symptomology and history, but the diagnosis of schizophrenia will fall to a centralized, remote blinded rater to enable consistency for eligibility.
Prescribers at sites in the clinician's choice arm can treat the patients in the manner most appropriate for that individual. Prescribers at sites in the Aripiprazole Once Monthly arm monthly will prescribe and administer the medication according to recommendations contained in the product labeling.
For a period of 2 years all subjects will receive bimonthly calls inquiring about visits to emergency rooms and hospitalization. At 4 month intervals information on use of services, insurance status, work, school attendance, and other service use outcomes will be assessed.
