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Minerva Psichiatrica 2007 March;48(1):43-53

Copyright © 2007 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Treatment of schizophrenia

Mazza M. ¹, Di Nicola M. ¹, Martinotti G. ¹, Taranto C. ¹, Janiri L. ¹, Bria P. ¹, Mazza S. ²

¹ Istituto di Psichiatria e Psicologia Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma 2 Dipartimento di Neuroscienze Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma

Schizophrenia is a chronic disease that influences all life aspects of affected patients. Therefore, it requires a treatment strategy aiming to reduce or eliminate symptoms, to enhance quality of life, to obtain and maintain the overcome of disabling effects of the disease as long as possible. Since 1950’s, antipsychotic drugs have been the standard treatment of schizophrenia. The discovery of clozapine in 1970’s started the introduction of new drugs, commonly called atypical for their peculiar mechanism of action and particularly for their lesser extrapiramidal side effects. Even if pharmacological treatment still represents the core of schizophrenia care, the incomplete response of some patients to antipsychotic drugs, the high incidence of adverse reactions and the scarce compliance to therapy demands wider approaches. An integrated psychosocial approach to the patient, along with pharmacological therapy, can improve schizophrenia clinical course. These treatments can further benefit patients in different ways, as in preventing relapses, in enhancing quality of life, social and working skills and in achieving a good self-management