title: Does long-term treatment of schizophrenia with antipsychotic medications facilitate recovery?
abstract: 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 features. These issues are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. Mharrow@psych.uic.edu
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harrow
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Jobe
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents
keywords: longitudinal studies; outcome; psychosis; unmedicated patients