How is schizophrenia treated?

Since the causes of schizophrenia are still unknown, current treatments focus on eliminating the symptoms of the disease.

Antipsychotic medications

These medications can effectively alleviate the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. While these drugs have greatly improved the lives of many patients, they do not cure schizophrenia.

The older antipsychotic medications include:

• chlorpromazine (Thorazine®), haloperidol (Haldol®),
• perphenazine (Etrafon®, Trilafon®), and
• fluphenzine (Prolixin®).

The problem is that these older medications can cause extra pyramidal side effects, such as rigidity, persistent muscle spasms, tremors, and restlessness.

Newer drugs called atypical antipsychotics, rarely produced these side effects.  Some of the drugs that were developed after clozapine was introduced are

• risperidone (Risperdal®),
• olanzapine (Zyprexa®),
• quietiapine (Seroquel®),
• sertindole (Serdolect®),
• ziprasidone (Geodon®)

Psychosocial treatment

Numerous studies have found that psychosocial treatments can help patients deal with certain aspects of schizophrenia, such as:

• difficulty with communication,
• motivation,
• self-care,
• work,
• establishing and maintaining relationships with others

It is based on learning and using various mechanisms to address these problems  and it allows people with schizophrenia to attend school, work, and socialize. Patients who receive regular psychosocial treatment also adhere better to their medication schedule and have fewer relapses and hospitalizations.

Prognosis

There are many different potential outcomes of schizophrenia. The good thing is that most people with schizophrenia find that their symptoms improve with medication, and some achieve substantial control of the symptoms over time. However, unfortunately others experience functional disability and are at risk for repeated acute episodes, particularly during the early stages of the illness.