Treatment of schizophrenia

Abstract

This selective review on the treatment of schizophrenia provides an update on two important issues. Firstly new antipsychotic drugs have improved the quality of life for people with schizophrenia. This review outlines some practical issues surrounding the use of these drugs. Secondly evidence suggests that the prompt identification and treatment of people with psychoses (including schizophrenia and affective psychoses) results in improved clinical outcomes. The important role that general practitioners can play in reducing the duration of untreated psychosis is also discussed.