Lisa K. Rawlins, PhD

Panelists discuss how prescription digital therapeutics differ from traditional pharmaceuticals by following FDA medical device approval pathways focused on clinical performance and safety rather than chemistry and manufacturing while offering potential economic value by extending behavioral health capacity to underserved populations, especially in rural areas with limited mental health professionals.

Panelists discuss how schizophrenia imposes significant economic costs across direct medical expenses, nonmedical expenses, and indirect costs, with negative symptoms particularly amplifying the burden by reducing patient engagement, work capacity, and treatment adherence while increasing relapse risk and total cost of care.