Summary of Guidelines for the Use of Psychotropic Drugs in the Treatment of Schizophrenia

Abstract

There is overwhelming evidence that neuroleptic drugs provide symptomatic benefits, reduce morbidity and prevent relapses in a large number of schizophrenic patients. As the neuroleptic drugs remain the “drugs of choice” in the treatment of schizophrenia, it is important to establish guidelines for their use. Neuroleptics control and do not cure. Although they are extremely potent in resolving the positive psychotic symptoms, their effects on the negative symptoms are unsatisfactory and many patients remain severely impaired because of these negative symptoms after they have left the hospital. Some patients may not respond to neuroleptics at all. Long-term treatment is inevitable for many patients; the unpleasant side effects of neuroleptics then become a serious problem. Patient drug compliance also becomes a problem for the physician. These and many other problems lead to the necessity to identify areas for future research in psychopharmacology.