The author discusses the Neuroleptics and Psychosocial Treatment issue of the Schizophrenia Bulletin from the viewpoint of a practicing clinician. The clinical implications of each of the review articles are assessed in turn, and conclusions derived from the articles are summarized.

Converging theoretical, psychopharmacological, neurodevelopmental advances have led to increasing interest in preventive intervention in schizophrenia. In particular, evidence suggests that early treatment is associated with a better prognosis. Furthermore, based on the reported reduction in severe side effects, the new novel antipsychotics potentially provide the tools for early intervention. ...

OBJECTIVE Inadequate response to clozapine treatment is frequently encountered in practice and augmentation strategies have been developed in an attempt to improve response. Aims of the study were to evaluate the therapeutic effect of adding an antipsychotic drug to clozapine treatment. METHOD Meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled studies of antipsychotic augmentation of clozapine t...

s | 9 PT566 A survey of medication using antipsychotics in patients with dementia. Takumi Shimizu, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital,

BACKGROUND Quetiapine causes less prolactin elevation and/or galactorrhoea than other atypical antipsychotics. CASE PRESENTATION Ms AB had galactorrhoea and raised prolactin levels at only 100 mg of quetiapine daily. CONCLUSION Low dose quetiapine can also cause galactorrhoea.

Clinical and psychosocial deterioration associated with schizophrenia occurs within the first few years following the onset of the illness. Therefore, to improve the long-term prognosis, it is important to provide schizophrenia patients with intensive treatment following their first episode. Relapse is highly associated with partial medication adherence or nonadherence in patients with first-ep...

SUMMARY The volume of the hippocampus is reduced in patients with schizophrenia, and this deficit tends to become more pronounced with chronicity. Newer antipsychotics may protect against the progressive reductions in hippocampal volume while preliminary data offer hope that specific antipsychotics may act to reverse it. DECLARATION OF INTEREST None. COPYRIGHT AND USAGE © The Royal College ...

The objective of this paper is to review therapeutic ways of management of antipsychotics side effects. In order to obtain this, modern guidelines were investigated, as well as recent articles on this subject. Guidelines recommend that side effects should be monitored regularly, and the side effect profile of the prescribed antipsychotic should be considered. In case of unacceptable side effect...

BACKGROUND There are claims that the extra costs of atypical (second-generation) antipsychotic drugs over conventional (first-generation) drugs are offset by improved health-related quality of life. AIMS To determine the relative costs and value of treatment with conventional or atypical antipsychotics in people with schizophrenia. METHOD Cost-effectiveness acceptability analysis integrated...

Antipsychotic medications are viewed as cornerstones for both the short-term and long-term treatment of schizophrenia. However, evidence on long-term (10 or more years) efficacy of antipsychotics is mixed. Double-blind discontinuation studies indicate significantly more relapses in unmedicated schizophrenia patients in the first 6-10 months, but also present some potentially paradoxical feature...