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First-episode schizophrenia

Early intervention and medication discontinuation in the context of course and treatment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 August 2018

Richard Jed Wyatt ,
L. Michelle Damiani  and
Ioline D. Henter
Richard Jed Wyatt*
Affiliation:
NIMH Neuroscience Center alt St Elizabeths, Washington, DC, USA
L. Michelle Damiani
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
Ioline D. Henter
Affiliation:
NIMH Neuroscience Center alt St Elizabeths, Washington, DC, USA
*
Correspondence: Richard J. Wyatt, NIMH Neuroscience Center at St Elizabeths, Washington, DC 20032, USA
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Abstract

Background The concept that early intervention with antipsychotic medications improves the long-term course of schizophrenia is discussed.

Method This report reviews the literature concerning early intervention with antipsychotic medications for people with firstepisodes, and how it affects long-term morbidity. It also studies the effects of discontinuing antipsychotic medications on relapse for people with first episodes.

Results Early intervention with antipsychotic medications appears to decrease the long-term morbidity of schizophrenia.

Conclusions Early intervention with antipsychotic medications should be encouraged for people experiencing their first episode of schizophrenia. This report proposes that studying the various phases of subject response to treatment can be helpful in elucidating when antipsychotic medications should be tapered or withdrawn.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 172 , Issue S33: Verging on reality , June 1998 , pp. 77 - 83
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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