Early intervention, time-limited, targeted pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia

A growing appreciation of the risks of long-term, continuous neuroleptic use in the aftercare of schizophrenic patients has led to a search for alternative strategies. The authors report their experiences with the clinical strategy of "targeted" medication, in which patients are followed d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Schizophrenia bulletin 1983, Vol.9 (4), p.533-542
Main Authors: CARPENTER, W. T. JR, HEINRICHS, D. W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aftercare
Antineoplastic agents
Antipsychotic Agents - therapeutic use
Biological and medical sciences
Chemotherapy
Drug Administration Schedule
Drug Therapy
Early Intervention
Health Care Delivery
Human
Humans
Maintenance Therapy
Medical sciences
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Psychosocial Rehabilitation
Recurrence
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia - drug therapy
Schizophrenic Psychology
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Description
Summary:A growing appreciation of the risks of long-term, continuous neuroleptic use in the aftercare of schizophrenic patients has led to a search for alternative strategies. The authors report their experiences with the clinical strategy of "targeted" medication, in which patients are followed drug free until prodromal signs of impending relapse appear. Medication is then initiated to abort the impending episode and discontinued when patients restabilize clinically. Preliminary experience suggests that control of schizophrenic symptomatology comparable to that obtained with maintenance drugs can be achieved with a marked reduction in medication use when the targeted strategy is applied in the context of a broad-based program of psychosocial intervention based on a comprehensive medical model.
ISSN:0586-7614
1745-1701
DOI:10.1093/schbul/9.4.533