Continuous versus targeted medication in schizophrenic outpatients: outcome results.
The authors report on the outcome of treatment of 116 outpatients with chronic schizophrenia who were assigned to a 2-year, single-blind course of treatment with either targeted or continuous medication. These patients were not restricted to those who were good candidates for a medication reduction strategy. Continuous medication was superior to targeted medication in preventing decompensations and hospitalizations and in extent of employment at 2 years. Other measures of psychopathology and functioning at 1 and 2 years did not differentiate the two groups of patients. The targeted approach achieved a substantial reduction in total medication through a reduction in the number of days of medication administration.
Carpenter
W T
WT
Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21228.
Hanlon
T E
TE
Heinrichs
D W
DW
Summerfelt
A T
AT
Kirkpatrick
B
B
Levine
J
J
Buchanan
R W
RW
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents